Barns Courtney
Supernatural Tour
The Roxy Theater, West Hollywood
November 15, 2023
Photos and Review by JULIE ANN SHAW
WEST HOLLYWOOD – If there is a chance to catch Barns Courtney live, I will jump on it and no one can tell me “no.” His charisma, his talent, his energy and his live performances are unmatched and electric. So when he came to The Roxy, like so many others, some of whom got to the venue at 2 pm to ensure an ideal spot at the stage for his 10pm performance, I didn’t let a little thing like LA rain stop me from having an unforgettable night.
As soon as the music started, the crowd not only knew exactly what song Courtney was opening with, they were ecstatic. He opened with “Fun Never Ends” from his 2019 album 404. Before moving on to “London Girls,” Courtney decided he was already hot, and removed his jacket and sprayed himself with water. Next, Courtney played two songs from his 2017 debut album, The Attractions of Youth, “Hands” and “Hobo Rocket.”
In order to give Courtney a short break, and highlight the beautiful and talented musicians with him on stage, we were graced with an amazing drum solo. Courtney walked back onstage and graced us with the most incredible performance of the single “Supernatural” which he released last year, and has quickly become one of his fans’ favorites. He followed with another single that he released this year, “Young In America,” which is truly one of the most addicting songs in his catalog.
At this point in the night, Courtney was drenched in sweat and water from his antics on stage. The true staple of a genuine all out performance by Barns Courtney is the fact that from start to finish, he is energetic and dancing, jumping, spinning, twirling the microphone, and just throwing his entire being into the music he flawlessly delivers. He engages with his audience and gets right up in their faces. At one point, he did a backwards “trust fall” right on top of one of his fans. That fan was me. I am ashamed to admit that because I had my camera in my hand, I failed him terribly. Thankfully, the people around me did not, and he survived unharmed.
The set continued with “Little Boy.” Courtney then stopped to ask the audience if they would prefer a band version of “Champion” or an acoustic version of “Hellfire.” Courtney performed “Champion.” Of course, it wouldn’t be an authentic Barns Courtney show without his huge hit, “Glitter & Gold.” He followed with “Hollow,” which sent several people into a frenzy, “99,” “Golden Dandelions,” and two of my personal favorites, “Kicks,” and “Fire.”
