Poptone Live at Teragram Ballroom, Los Angeles

May 13th featured a wild night of music in the downtown area of Los Angeles at the long-standing Teragram Ballroom with bands Automatic and Poptone. Not only was this a night of badass and beautiful music, but it was also a night of family as Kevin Haskins (frontman of Poptone) was joined by his daughter Diva Dompe and was supported by his other daughter’s (Lola Dompe’s) incredible indie pop group Automatic.

Automatic is an all women trio featuring Lola Dompe on drums and vocals, Izzy Glaudini on synthesizer and vocals and Haile Gaines on bass and vocals. The three entered the stage and took control of attention as their nonchalant gazes guided them to their instruments. They picked up their respective pieces and Lola Dompe began an intro on the drums, giving a minimalist feel to the introduction akin to LCD Soundsystem. However, unlike LCD, the band did not use mass-energy and dancing to perpetuate the show. Rather, they let the music speak for them as they played in a beautiful messy sync. During their nine-song set, Automatic played with true feeling and true love for what they do, which only made the show even more incredible. Look no further for that new, somewhat punk and indie outfit. Automatic will make you think and listen, and you will be all the better for it.

The opening set ended and the crowd went wild for the three women as they walked off stage. After a 15 minute set up, a backing track played and the fresh, new Poptone walked on stage. Comprised of Daniel Ash on drums, Diva Dompe on bass and vocals, and Kevin Haskins on guitar and vocals, the show was set to be a huge success. The crowd cheered for Poptone as they all picked up their instruments as well as for Haskins’ incredible outfit of a mohawk, white sunglasses, a rolled up Poptone shirt and striped pants (like a true rock star).

The band began with the Love and Rockets cover of “I Feel Speed,” which featured some soothing guitar licks as well as Dompe and Haskins’s dreamy voices alternating lyrics. The song ended and the tempo picked up a bit as Poptone played another Love and Rockets cover, this time “Haunted When the Minutes Drag.” The slow rise in tempo had the crowd bobbing up and down as they waited for Haskins’ signature rock star-esque moves to take place. The performance was accompanied by cool colors from the lights, too, which seemed to be a theme throughout the rest of the show. The song finished and the audience couldn’t have been happier as their smiling faces stared in awe at the incredible-ness that is Poptone.

The band played a few more songs from Ash and Haskins past anthology, then Haskins decided it was saxophone time. A heavy bass line enters and everyone goes crazy as they recognize the bass riff from Tones on Tail’s ever-popular “Movement of Fear.” The slow, haunting song moved forward due to Dompe’s slick bass skills and, as the song builds, Haskins brings his tenor saxophone close to his lips waiting for his solo. Before you know it, the Poptone frontman takes his sax and wails as he skillfully plays a mesmerizing saxophone solo reminiscent of Lou Reed’s saxophone on “Walk on the Wild Side.” The band burned through the rest of their songs like a seasoned 1970s punk band and brought an incredible amount of energy to the stage, which only doubled in size as the crowd fed back.

The show ended and the band walked off stage, sweaty and happy with their golden music. About ten minutes passed until Poptone decided to play a huge five-song encore, ending with “Yin and Yang (The Flowerpot Man).” As they played through the last song, the stage energy grew: Dompe was dancing with her bass, Ash was slamming his drums with his sticks and sweat, and Haskins was strumming faster than The Flash can run. There was fire burning all around from the music as the band played their last song. Everyone danced, everyone clapped, and they were all filled with glee as they got the see one of the most incendiary shows Los Angeles has seen in a long time. 

Poptone Setlist

1. I Feel Speed – (Love and Rockets cover)
2. Haunted When – the Minutes Drag (Love and Rockets cover)
3. All in My Mind – (Love and Rockets cover)
4. Mirror People – (Love and Rockets)
5. Movement of Fear – (Tones on Tail cover)
6. Happiness – (Tones on Tail cover)
7. No Big Deal – (Love and Rockets cover)
8. Lions – (Tones on Tail cover)
9. Love Me – (Love and Rockets cover)
10. Burning Skies – (Tones on Tail cover)
11. Performance – (Tones on Tail cover)
12. Christian Says – (Tones on Tail cover)
13. Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World is Today) – (The Temptations cover)

Encore

1. Alien Love – (Daniel Ash cover)
2. Go! – (Tones on Tail cover)
3. An American Dream – (Love and Rockets cover)
4. Slice of Life – (Bauhaus cover)
5. Yin and Yang (The Flowerpot Man) – (Love and Rockets cover)