Photos and review by NOTES FROM VIVACE
LOS ANGELES – The Dandy Warhol’s vocalist-guitarist Coutney Taylor-Taylor mentioned that their 12-stop tour across the western part of the United States was “a bit of a last hurrah.” If the Bellwether set was their last set ever in Los Angeles, they gave the crowd some amusing moments to remember them by.
The night started with the band walking on stage with Can’s “Vitamin C” playing over the speakers. Keyboardist Zia McCabe led them out. After getting to her set-up, she looked around and noticed some friends at the front of the stage. She rushed over to shake their hands.
When they finished up their second song “You Were the Last High,” Taylor-Taylor mentioned to the crowd that he had failed to sing a verse of the song. He was potentially distracted by something not being set up to his liking, because as soon as they finished up the truncated song, he called out to a crew member to provide him a quick assist. To make it up to the audience, the band replayed the song.
When it came to “I’d Like to Help You With Your Problem,” the crowd had to dance. As the band went into the funky “Styggo,” they stopped mid-beat. Another crew member rushed out on stage (hopefully, a crew member and not an overly devoted fan) and began whispering into drummer Brent DeBoer’s ear. They then picked it back up.
As soon as the groovy “Shakin’” ended, McCabe went rushing off stage. Perhaps doing a bit of acting, the remaining band members looked confused at what was happening. They then just admitted that she was off to the bathroom. After a few moments of thought, DeBoer decided to follow her off stage. Left behind were Taylor-Taylor and fellow guitarist Peter Holmström. They decided to entertain the crowd with an acoustic version of “Every Day Should Be A Holiday.”
When the two band members returned from their bathroom break, McCabe told the audience that she was able to hear everything that was being said about her bathroom break by the band members, because she was wearing her ear piece. Perhaps nothing super exciting occurred during the set for Holmström, but he did have the disco ball right next to him. It bathed him in white lights during various parts of the night. McCabe ended the night with a call to the audience, “Thank you, LA. Thank you, Bellwether. We’ll see you next time. Free Palestine. Fuck ICE. Keep supporting artists.”
Opening up the night was UK-based band Kula Shaker, who is touring the states to build anticipation for their 2026 album Wormslayer. The band opened up the night with an Eastern-inspired psychedelic female vocalist singing through the speakers as they made sure they were all tuned up.
One knew immediately that the night was going to be a psychedelic experience as well known liquid light show artist Lance Gordon (The Mad Alchemist Liquid Show) was doing his thing from the balancy. The dazzling display lit up the front of the stage. The band is taken by his artistry as it was mentioned that they even brought him over to the UK to assist with some shows there.
Bassist Alonza Bevan mentioned that their lead singer Crispian Mills had to go to the doctor earlier in the day to deal with vocal issues. The doctor’s response was, “either cancel or his voice would sound like sh*t.” They decided to continue with the show and it should be said that his vocals sounded solid.
The band just had to poke fun at America’s political divide. It was mentioned how happy they were to be in the United States, but . . . “I’m not sure how united it is . . . but it still feels wonderful.”
Money was a theme during the middle part of the set. “Idon’twannapaymytaxes” had the lyrics, “ I don’t want the man to drink my wine. I don’t wanna pay my taxes. I just want the trains to run on time.” A couple songs later, they sang their latest single, “Good Money.” Mills took out a pile of fake bills and started making it rain into the crowd.
Their song “Hush” had the crowd singing along to “Early in the morning, late in the evening.” The band ended the set with “Govinda” and a giant leap into the air by Mills.
The Dandy Warhols Setlist: Ride, You Were the Last High, Plan A, Be Alright, I Love You, I’d Like to Help You With Your Problem, STYGGO, Holding Me Up, Shakin’, Every Day Should Be a Holiday, We Used to Be Friends, Get Off, Bohemian Like You, Godless, Pete International Airport, Boys Better.
Kula Shaker Setlist: Tattva, Shower Your Love, Hurry On Sundown (Hawkwind cover), Grateful When You’re Dead / Jerry Was There, Idon’twannapaymytaxes, Into the Deep, Good Money, Day For Night, Hush (Joe South cover), Govinda.
