Coming off the release of their sophomore album, it was only natural for Dummy to play a record release show in their hometown of Los Angeles, CA. The band celebrated the new record, Free Energy, at Highland Park’s Lodge Room on September 7th. Upon first listen of Free Energy, it was clear this was going to be one of the best rock albums of the year (our review of the album can be read here). You can safely say we were very much looking forward to seeing Dummy and everyone else playing that night – Corridor, Lockslip, and Blimp made for an exciting and diverse lineup.
(Above: Corridor)
One of the first things we were excited to listen for at the Lodge Room was if Dummy could pull off the beautiful and interesting moments they captured on the album, and if they could expand on the ideas in a live setting. The music is danceable, strange, and experimental; and within the scope of the album, the band has the space in a live setting to create something that stands outside of the recorded music. Their set was technically sound, which was a fantastic feat considering all of the textures the band utilizes. There was however a level of spontaneity and improvisation expected at a live show that wasn’t quite there. The extended pauses between songs sometimes felt like missed opportunities to engage the audience and explore new musical territories. The show was still fun and captivating, and it was a great experience hearing the songs from Free Energy executed live. We are looking forward to seeing how the band will grow in the future and watching how they will allow their set to showcase their creativity, chemistry, and (free) energy.
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