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Years & Years At The Hollywood Avalon: Show Review

Joyce Jude Lee |
March 24, 2015 | 8:55 a.m. PDT

Music Editor

The band's LA debut (Neon Tommy/Joyce Lee)
The band's LA debut (Neon Tommy/Joyce Lee)
Years & Years are blowing up. Since the electro-pop trio released their first self-titled EP, they’ve been embraced by fans and critics in their native UK. Now, they're making waves in America aftering playing SXSW and winning an MTV Woodie Award.

In recent times, they’ve scooped up the BBC Sound of 2015 honor, and joined the likes of Sam Smith, Haim, and Adele, who won the prize in previous years. As if that isn’t telling enough, the band’s recent single “King,” also shot to number one in the UK charts and is bound to do the same in America.

READ MORE: Misterwives And BORNS At The Troubadour 

On Monday night, Olly Alexander, Mikey Goldsworthy and Emre Turkmen played their debut, sold out show at the Avalon in Hollywood. Red lights flooded the stage as Emre, Mikey and Dylan (their touring drummer) took the stage to welcoming cheers, and the screams came in when lead singer Olly Alexander took the stage.

The band played “Take Shelter” and “Real,” two songs that off their EP that introduced fans to their sound. Throughout the night, Olly danced as well as he sung, he flowed to the music and enjoyed performing so much that you would’ve sworn he listens to their own music in his spare time. The Londoners also played cuts off their new record, “Communion,” which is due out in June. One of those tracks, “Worship,” is the band’s most recent single and follows in the footsteps of “King” and “Desire,” two previous singles that are also incredibly catchy infections.

Olly on the piano (Neon Tommy/Joyce Lee)
Olly on the piano (Neon Tommy/Joyce Lee)
After dancing most of the night away, Olly and the band moved to the piano for a series of slower tracks, notably “Memo,” another beloved track off their debut EP.

Moving into the final moments of the show, Years & Years upped the energy even more with “Desire,” and closed the show with “King,” the track that is bound to launch them into mainstream America. By the end of the night, everyone had their hands up and were dancing and singing along to the choruses to these tracks that they've come to love.

Lead Olly charms LA (Neon Tommy/Joyce Lee)
Lead Olly charms LA (Neon Tommy/Joyce Lee)
Years & Years aren't like everyone else. Yes, their melodies are catchy and their lyrics are undoubtedly relatable, but what separates Years & Years from other acts is Olly’s voice. Throughout the set, his voice almost teeters on being androgynous at times, and I mean that in the most flattering way possible. Using his vocals as his most powerful tool, he lends emotion to seemingly trite dance tunes. It may have been their debut show, but if the gig's indicative of the band's success in America, it looks like they'll be back for (a lot) more in the future. 

Reach Music Editor Joyce Jude Lee here.



 

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