Photos and review by NOTES FROM VIVACE
– LOS ANGELES – Iress brought the Los Angeles music community together at The Echo to celebrate their third full record release Sleep Now, In Reverse. It was an appreciated moment, given the venue ended its Monday night residencies. Kianah LongChase of opener TwoLips mentioned that this was potentially the first time she had been to The Echo since after the pandemic.
Taking that into context, it makes it all the more meaningful when local bands headline the venue. The crowd was filled with familiar faces, both music fans and members of bands such as All Things Blue, Family Cash, Lauren Ruth Ward, and Taleen Kali. Lauren Ruth Ward was seen grabbing the setlist of opener SLUGS.
Seven photographers were shooting the night, many having known each other and followed the bands playing for years. Maybe the only unfamiliar feel of the night was that the stage monitors were three feet farther away from the front of the stage than in the past.
As Iress took the stage and tuned up their instruments, gothic chants were heard over the speakers. It set the stage for their gothic, metal, shoegaze, multi-genre sound that always takes the darker elements of those genres. The band played an 8 song set that shook the foundations of The Echo with all songs coming from the new album except for the Billie Eilish cover “What Was I Made For.”
The band opened with “In Reverse,” which starts off with low volume strumming and just a hint of an electrical current. Lead singer and guitarist Michelle Malley’s vocals then enter the conversation with power screams of the lyrics “in my head” that drives the music to gothic heights.
For the song “The Remains,” Leah Wellbaum of slothrust was brought up on stage as a surprise guest to play guitar. It led to an amusing moment as Malley introduced Wellbaum as being the guest guitarist for the night and then proceeded to grab the guitar and started hooking the guitar strap in order to play the instrument. Wellbaum looked on with amusement until Malley finally realized what she was doing. With an “I’m just so excited” comment, she handed the guitar over. Wellbaum put on a show with the guitar playing as the crowd cheered.
Malley then mentioned that the surprises weren’t over yet. The band was going to play a song as a gift to the crowd. That song was Eilish’s “What Was I Made For.” The band ended the night with “Sanctuary.” The song title may give a sense of comfort, but the lyrics blast that notion apart, “You said. I’m not what you want. You said. I’m not what you want. You. I see red.” The crowd yelled for an encore, but to get that encore, plane tickets need to be booked for the UK as the band will be spending the rest of the month touring the country across the pond.
While Iress may take the darker elements of their music influences, SLUGS takes the brighter elements of their music influences. This made for the perfect opening set. Marissa Longstreet is a lead singer with multiple facial expressions and a dead ringer vocal impersonation of Woody Harrelson. And those one-liners. “My mom said that if you’re not your biggest fan, who’s going to be. What does that mean?” “If you like to party with your money, buy something from everyone.”
TwoLips took the middle slot and asked the audience, “Is this a safe space for rage?” The crowd screamed back that it was. More than half the songs on the setlist have yet to be released. Based on the reaction of the audience and the enthusiastic stage show, those songs will be well received upon wider availability.
Iress setlist: In Reverse, Lovely (Forget Me Not), Falling, The Remains, What Was I Made For (Billie Eilish cover), Deep, Mercy, Sanctuary
TwoLips setlist: Chase the Rabbit, Going Out, Nations, All That, Winonha’s Daughter, Homey Metal, Like No Other, Big Deal, Tip Toe, U Must Not Live Here, MFKN Free
SLUGS setlist: Hell No, Be Good, Bath House, Death of Me, Strange, Home, Curveball, Bad Twin, Contact
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