ALLAH-LAS
I wrote this on April 12th and have had it saved in my drafts since. I felt the urge to finally post it. So, please enjoy my Allah-Las experience.
I came to this platform to express my feelings about a recent concert at a charming, energy-filled venue here in San Francisco, CA, The Chapel.
Tucked in on lively Valencia Street in the Mission District, The Chapel walls bury you in its telepathic wavelengths.
And before I begin, I would like to preface that I am not in a band, I do not play an instrument, I am not a DJ, and I do not fall under any other music title people label themselves as. I am just a guy who loves some Goddamn good music and would like to think I know a good show when I hear one.
Friday, April 11th, Allah-Las — a laid-back, wavy band with a true California vibe latching on to each tune— took the stage and controlled every one of mine and the crowd’s emotions for the next hour plus.
This is the second time I have seen them come up to the Bay Area, bringing those endlessly sunny Los Angeles days, and watch as they heat up a group of San Franciscans covered in Fog. The first being at the historic Fillmore venue here in San Francisco. Both experiences took control of my soul as each band member took turns burning off that thick layer of fog with their transformative sounds and vocals.
I walked out of this most recent show finding my thoughts needing a moment between conversation just to say, “Damn, that was a good show tonight!”
Only if I could say this about every show I went to.
Opening with no words and pure vibes — I want to say it was Sacred Sands or Ferus Gallery (and if I am wrong about both of those, so be it) — I could feel it in my bones, and to be honest, I would have been happy if they kept ripping that tune the whole time. But understandably, like any seasoned band would, they continued to roll through their hypnotizing discography with ease.
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And I simply cannot forget about the use of the Disco Ball. Other than Friday, April 11th, I am not sure if I could pin down when I last saw one (and maybe that is just my age showing). It made me think why didn’t every band use one, but maybe I was just caught up in the moment.
By the time they walked off the stage, nobody in the crowd had moved. People pleading their case;
“One more song!”
“Encore!!”
“They can’t be done.” *concert-goers turning towards their friends
Allah-Las heard the crowd loud and clear, and what a perfect encore it was. Playing multiple songs and giving the crowd one more taste of the Rays from down South. I wish I could sit here and name each one they played to close it out, but even as I write this, I am still familiarizing myself with their past work and trying to identify each one by the vibrations of the tune.
I do know it included one of their more popular songs, Catamaran, from their first self-titled album, and what a beauty of a track it is.
Cheers to Allah-Las and their ability to captivate me and many others that night. From the moment they walked on stage and grabbed their instruments, they controlled the crowd from their first tune to their last words.
I will see you guys next time, and I hope it is soon.
I recommend everyone see one of their shows or check them out on Apple Music (or Spotify) and let the music take over.
