Emily Kinney’s superfans arrived hours before doors opened to meet the singer at the Lodge Room in Northeast Los Angeles. Bartenders prepared the bar in the back of the venue as concertgoers arrived early in the evening. The space is dark with blue lighting and a Freemason symbol the size of an 8×12 photograph centered at the top of the stage, a reminder of the venue’s 1922 Masonic origin. The audience mingled and conversed before the lights lowered to the opening act, Evangeline. The lead singer wielded an acoustic guitar; on either side of her stood a bassist and an electric guitarist; behind them, a drummer. Evangeline projected on the wall behind the group. They open nearly every song with a backstory (inspiration, meaning of lyrics, who co-produced, etc.). After eight songs, the “windansea” lead singer thanked Emily Kinney for the invitation.

After a brief intermission, Emily Kinney took to the stage as the crowd cheered. Kinney time-traveled to her pivotal life experiences with her song “Omaha Hotel,” she explained that leaving Nebraska for New York graced her with career opportunities that simultaneously cost her attendance at weddings and baby showers back home. Kinney also talked about being labeled as easy (to work with) and rethought how she wanted to be described.

Kinney required audience participation at her show. She coached the crowd on when and how to clap and snap. The Walking Dead actress comedically graded her ex an F and sang “B or C for Effort,” for which Kinney recently debuted a music video. When she performed “False Start,” the crowd swayed and the acoustics of the song felt like a record playing in a movie set in California. Kinney played “Broken Air Conditioning” and coined repetition in the lyrics, “I’m so tired.” While exhibiting spatial awareness, the audience swayed, hugged and mock-swing-danced.

Evangeline

Emily Kinney

All photos by Colin King