Photos and Review by NOTES FROM VIVACE
LOS ANGELES – On a chilly California night, the Zebulon provided cozy comfort where Gold Star celebrated the single release of “Wild Boys.” The venue was packed to enjoy singer-songwriter Marlon Rabenreither’s take on Americana rock music, a genre that has recently made a strong comeback to the Los Angeles scene.
Fans needed no encouragement to come to the front of the stage. They were up front as soon as the band began their set-up. Throughout the set, floor lights lit the stage in gold and the ceiling lamps had a golden hue, making for an all-encompassing experience.
The setlist appeared to be dedicated as a preview for an upcoming record release. The band started off the night with “Some Sunday Mornings.” The song started off with a jam on the harmonica and had one hearing the wind sweeping across the tips of grass along a hillside. The song “With You” had Rabenreither reaching back to 2015 and his Dark Days album and had him playing the guitar in all manners of positions. “Searchlights” was a real ripper while “Fentanyl” had a tender touch.
When it came time to play “Wild Boys,” the steel guitarist hit all the notes and the drummer looked intense on the kit while Rabenreither did double duty with the harmonica and guitar strings. The song is powered by his vocals that have a smooth Americana twang.
And as a side note, the music video for the song stars Langley Fox as a single mother living in a small desert town working at a gas station while her two young boys (Guy and Coleman Scott) roam the desert, practicing their shooting skills on beer cans and jackrabbits. You can tell she loves her kids, but it isn’t the most exciting life. Then comes a stranger (Rabenreither) into the gas station. An encounter that maybe lasts no longer than an hour, but leaves a strong imprint.
“Wild Boys” led into “Surrender,” which is a retrospective jam that has memorable licks and haunting lyrics. The band closed it out with “Fade Away.” Though the song title might indicate a shift to a vanishing night, folks on the raised bench in the back of the venue were having none of it as they danced on the steps.
Opening up the night was Will Worden and Mercedes Kilmer. Worden handed out beers to his band members and then hung back while his band hit a few notes on stage. When he joined the band, his deep bass vocals hit the country tunes. Mercedes Kilmer was giving out hugs to friends who showed up to catch her set. She kept her music raw and had quiet waif vocals that punctuate with emphasis when required.
Gold Star setlist: Some Sunday Mornings, Shoot the Moon, Think You Should Know, With You, Searchlights, Fentanyl, Sonny’s Blues, Wild Boys, Surrender, Happy, Fade Away
Check out the video for ‘Wild Boys’ here: