Photos and review by NOTES FROM VIVACE
LOS ANGELES – The prolific songwriter Felly (moniker for Christian Robert Felner) dropped by The Echo during his For The Crows tour to promote his recently released Ambroxyde album. The tour name is inspired by his tune “Song for the Crows.”
He mentioned during his set that the day before his father was diagnosed with brain cancer, his mother noticed that crows were covering the lawn.
“From that moment, to a 6-year-old mind, the crows knew something that you didn’t,” he said. “It changed my perspective as I grew up. I realized that everything that you are is because of the things that you experience for better or worse.”
The album was created in rural areas across the globe. These locations included the remote Troll Peninsula in Iceland, the Greek island of Hydra, and Tornillo, Texas, a small border town that is 40 miles from El Paso.
The Echo set started off with Felly’s band jamming for the crowd. Felly walked onto the stage with a, “Hey, what’s up?” A friendly persona that immediately endeared him all the more to his fan base. Though his latest album takes inspiration from the indie scene, his stage performance was invigorated by his rap background as he bounced across the stage and encouraged fan participation, saying at one point that audience response was given back “ten fold” by the band, “That’s how this sh*t works, let’s go, baby.”
His hour-long set had him selecting songs from his vast music catalog. That included going all the way back to the beginning with his 2014 song “Fabrics” that had a rap influence infused with the saxophone jazz playing of his bandmate. His 2015 song “This Sh*t Comes in Waves” had the fans singing the lyrics and moving their arms to form the Pacific Ocean inside the venue.
Some other set moments to remember included when his USC classmate and collaborator GYYPS jumped up on stage for a song. One might have gotten super drunk if they took a drink every time Felly’s hat came flying off his head. Out in the audience, a boyfriend bragged about his girlfriend having Felly tattoos, which was later verified via a Felly Instagram story.
To end the night, Felly’s crew took to the front of the stage as he sang “Probation.” As people headed to the merch table or out into the streets of Echo Park, the memories of a singer who radiated joy was etched into their hearts.
Opening up the night was Breakup Shoes. It was the band’s first night opening for Felly as they are joining the back half of the tour. They also have a recent album to promote called “Standing Still.”
Seven of their songs on the 10-song setlist were from the album. Their dream pop tunes drew the band’s fans to the front of the stage. Their hit song “Nicotine Dreams” had their fans singing along and got the loudest cheers of their set. “Midwest Goodbye” tickled the eardrums.
Felly Setlist: Ambroxyde, Heartstrings, Bad Radio, New Soul, East Side, So You Fell In Love, Pretty Girl + Maple, 7th King, Horchata (Waves), Gorilla, Desert Eagle, Fabrics, This Shit Comes In Waves, Thinking (11:44), Last Call for Austin x Rocketman, Spinning Around, Song for the Crows, Vices, Fresh Waters, Bones, Baby Boy, Love And Fear, Free Love. Encore: Chicago Nights, Probation.
Breakup Shoes setlist: Brainwash, Universal, Malaise, Accessory, The Suburbs, Nicotine Dream, Midwest Goodbye, Anti-Social Socialite, Unrequited Love (& other clichés), Copacetic.
