David Duchovny // Live in Hollywood, CA
David Duchovny -- The Roxy | West Hollywood, CA | 14 February 2017
Photos Courtesy of: Kathy Flynn
David Duchovny visited the world-famous Roxy Theater in West Hollywood on the second stop of his 2017 Hell or Highwater tour.
Duchovny, best known for his roles as Fox Mulder on The X-Files and Hank Moody on Californication, has been branching out. His second novel, Bucking F*ing Dent, was released in 2016, and he recently finished recording his second album. The Roxy show featured a mix of new songs and songs from his debut album, Hell or Highwater, which was released in 2015.
Duchovny, backed by a full band, opened the show with “3000”, a track off Hell or Highwater that seemed to be a fan favorite. Duchvony reached into the predominantly female audience several times during the set, giving out high five to the dedicated fans in the front row.
Late in the set he brought out Californication creator Tom Kapinos to join the band for a cover of The Band’s “The Weight.” When Kapinos initially failed to appear on stage, the audience started chanting “Mitch,” calling for X-Files co-star Mitch Pileggi, who was in the audience, to join Duchovny on stage. Pileggi quietly slipped out soon after.
Frank Turner // Los Angeles, CA
Frank Turner -- The Wiltern | Los Angeles, CA | 28 January 2017
Photos Courtesy of: Kathy Flynn
Three years ago someone gave me a ticket to see Frank Turner at the Fonda Theater in L.A, and my life was forever changed. I watched from the balcony as Frank poured his heart into the audience, and they poured it all back, singing along as one to each and every song. I wondered how I had missed him until then, and vowed to never watch Frank from the balcony again.
Since then I have seen 13 shows, including three I travelled out of state for. When you travel out of state, you sometimes think you are a big deal, “Oh, I travelled a long way for this.” With Frank Turner, you realize most of the crowd has travelled a long way for it. Travelling from show to show is a thing Frank Turner fans do. His audience is fervidly devoted, and after your first show, you understand why. No one, except possibly Springsteen in his prime, puts on a show like Frank Turner.
At the WIltern, Frank Turner took the stage alone with his guitar for his newest song, “Sand in the Gears.” It’s a powerful protest song, turning despair and escapism into action, and, even though the song is brand new, and only played live on this current tour, most of the audience already knew the words, and sang along.
After the simple opening, the Sleeping Souls, Frank’s longtime backing band, bounced on stage, bring the energy up to 11 as they ripped into “The Next Storm,” off of Frank’s most recent album, Positive Songs for Negative People, followed by “I Still Believe” which featured opening act and all around ace songwriter Will Varley joining Frank on stage for a harmonica solo. Frank then proceeded to power through high energy renditions of all his best known songs for the next 90 minutes, while the crowd danced and sang along to everything. The set varies somewhat every night, and the Los Angeles crowd was treated to a brand new rendition of “A Silent Key,” Frank’s ode to Christa McAuliffe, the teacher who died in the Challenger space shuttle explosion 31 years ago to the day.
Opening acts were John K. Samson from the Canadian band The Weakerthans, the Arkells, and Will Varley. All were absolutely wonderful and worth showing up early for.
