(Joyce Jude Lee/Neon Tommy)

Playing their first of two sold out shows in Los Angeles at the El Rey Theatre, Kodaline surpassed my (already high) expectations with a high energy show packed with solid instrumentality and extraordinary vocals.

After opening act LP performed, the Irish quartet took the stage and delivered a solid set from beginning to end. 

The band (Steve Garrigan, Mark Prendergrast, Jason Bolan, and Vinny May) has arena potential; their sound is reminescent of both Mumford and Sons and Coldplay with their folksy beats and haunting vocals.  

Kodaline hit the ground running with "After the Fall," an uptempo song that served its purpose as it had the crowd buzzing.  

After slowing down with "Pray," Kodaline picked it up back up with "Brand New Day" (my personal favorite). The lights faded to red, and the band jumped into the psychedelic "Lose Your Mind," before leaping into crowd favorites "Love Like This," "Way Back When," and "High Hopes." The unrelenting crowd cheered and sang back every word, proving that this is only the beginning for the young Irish band.

(Joyce Jude Lee/Neon Tommy)

Steve announced that they had one last song, "All Comes Down," and proceeded to exit the stage briefly. Esctatic fans shouted"Encore! Encore!" again and again until the band returned to the stage for a three-song encore.

Steve started with "The Answer" solo, before the rest of the band joined him on stage. The quartet then left their mics, stood in a (Koda)line at the front of the stage and did a stripped, PA-less cover of Sam Cooke's "Bring It On Home To Me." The happy crowd kept quiet and snapped along to this gem, which was a definite highlight of the show.

(Joyce Jude Lee/Neon Tommy)

The boys returned to their places and invited LP out to join them onstage for their last, emotional song, "All I Want," which was easily the crowd favorite as music lovers sang along to every word and joined the band in singing the harmonic whoa-oh-ooooohs.

The band will peform on American Idol next Tuesday and return for another American tour this fall.

Read more of NT's show reviews here.

Reach Staff Reporter Joyce Jude Lee here.