Photos and Review by NOTES FROM VIVACE
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – Joe Wong, with the help of his orchestral band Nite Creatures and the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever venue, created an atmospheric event to celebrate the upcoming release of his Mere Survival album.
Wong’s orchestra included strings on stage left, horns on stage right along with keys, drums, guitars, bass. Let’s just say it was a packed stage that included musicians such as Crisanta Baker (Lo Moon), Matt Cameron (Pearl Jam, Soundgarden), and Mark Cisneros (Kid Congo).
The Masonic Lodge provided a perfect venue for the night. The back wall and stage lights gave the feeling that one was actually listening to the band playing outdoors where the evening sky was filled with white clouds. All of this combined together provided for a meditative space.
Joe Wong is a film and television composer and his setlist was filled with music that could be placed in various Hollywood movies. “Into Nothing” had the psychedelic rhythms for a potential future Austin Powers sequel. “Dreams Wash Away” was in the Netflix series “The Midnight Gospel.” It hits you with sadness as he sings “Oh, all your dreams will wash away.”
The setlist included songs from both his upcoming album and his debut album “Nite Creatures.” He mentioned that his tour for “Nite Creatures” was canceled in 2020. “Ordinary Light” starts with a lyrical choir and his vocals glide above.
“So Much Ground” had a lullaby start before drum beats and keyboard notes had stars twinkling through the white clouds of the venue’s backdrop (all metaphorically speaking).
Tambourine and electric guitar kept pace with each other as the song twisted into a jam session. The set ended with “Always Alone.” The music had one imagining being in the rainforest as animals start to wake up and scurry around. The song scratched and pulsated with nature’s excitement.
He ended the night by saying, “Thank you so much for being here,” and the crowd responded with a standing ovation.
Opening up the night was Death Valley Girls going chill for the night. The band had the backing of a four person choir that sang with Gregorian chants that punctuated the notes.
Lead singer Bonnie Bloomgarden did her trademark wave to those she recognized in the crowd and said at one point, “I hope you see the moon after the show, it looks really cool.” For those into astronomy, the night had the wolf moon.
Setlist: The Ape Of The Wafer, Into Nothing, Nite Creatures, Back to Blood, Mere Survival, Waiting, Nuclear Rainbow, Ordinary Light, What Have You Done, Day After Day, So Much Ground, Dreams Wash Away, Always Alone.