There’s nothing particularly Californian about Destroyer. The much beloved band fronted by singer-songwriter Dan Bejar actually hails from Vancouver, Canada, which is a deeply un-Californian place and their music does little to inspire partying, which is also deeply un-Californian. 

Luckily, Los Angeles is a land of transplants and misfits, the artsy kids who never stood a chance in Lincoln, Nebraska or the people who were stuck here by their parents because they happened to move to Southern California in a time when that wasn’t literally impossible to do for financial reasons.

Because of this comical assemblage of humanity – you get a lot of oddballs, and oddballs are exactly who Destroyer is targeting. Destroyer’s music which often hinges on poetic language and a signature singing style can have a tendency to feel overwhelming. At times, the tracks have reminded of medieval music, extremely dense and folksy beyond comprehension.

The impressive size of Destroyer’s fanbase than is a testament to his skill as a songwriter. His music is thematically relentless and gives no quarter to anyone who needs a safety float to help stay above the waves that each of his tracks encourage.

Anyone looking to attend this show should enter with an open mind and no expectations. Destroyer isn’t in the business of being predictable, and there’s a decent chance that the show itself is far weirder than you would initially think a folk artist would be capable of creating. So come prepared with an open mind, we promise it’ll be worth it.

Location: The Regent Theater

Address: 448 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Tickets available from $17.50

Photo Credit: Rachel Doe