Photos and review by NOTES FROM VIVACE
LOS ANGELES – For their The Get On This Ride tour, The Dollyrots dropped by their adopted home town of Los Angeles to play The Echo in front of a sold out crowd. Providing support was another hometown band, Go Betty Go.
Prior to the set, The Echo staff gathered outside to discuss the night. Yes, the two bands had formed around 2000, but the staff was informed that the bands attracted fans of all age levels. That was not an over-statement. As soon as the doors opened, the teenagers were crowding the front of the stage with their parents in tow and their favorite songs memorized so that they could sing along with the bands.
The Dollyrots bassist and lead vocalist Kelly Ogden started off the set by pointing to her knee, “I can use my knee this year.” A reference to the fact that last year’s tour had a mishap during their Eugene, Oregon set that resulted in her ending up in the hospital. The band started off the set with a fan favorite “My Best Friend’s Hot” that had guitarist Luis Cabezas joking, “Wow, she’s back. Muscle memory.”
Prior to playing the title track off their most recent album release “Night Owls,” Ogden explained to the audience that she just couldn’t fall asleep at normal hours like many of those who have standard job hours, “I was probably meant to protect the village.” The song had their drummer, Simon Hancock, twirling the sticks.
With one of his classic leaps, Cabezas got the crowd into a pogo dancing mood for their song “Feed Me, Pet Me.” The band later paid tribute to their two hometowns. The band originally started in Florida (currently also reside there) and their song “Alligator” was dedicated to the town that they both grew up in. They then played “City of Angels” as their tribute to their adopted hometown, “God, it feels good to play this here.” Their song “Jackie Chan” was dedicated to their Kiss or Kill crew (for those not in the know, that was a collective of bands that The Dollyrots joined while living in Los Angeles).
For those unaware, Ogden and Cabezas are married and have two kids, River (11) and Daisy (8). To provide a little entertaining break before the three encore finale, the two kids came up on stage.
“I failed to measure them in a door jam, but we’ve moved a few times so it doesn’t really matter,” Ogden said. “The way that I understand how my children are growing is based on the pictures of my children on stage.”
You can tell there is a little competition on the subject matter of height. River complained that even though he is three years older than Daisy, she’s almost as tall as him. Ogden had to provide a little motherly soothing, “Boys grow up differently.” The night was closed out with their classic jam “Because I’m Awesome” and with Ogden telling the audience, “I’m going to go pee.”
Go Betty Go’s set was filled with positive emotions. Nicolette Vilar came up on stage and told the audience, “If you don’t mind, we’re going to make a little noise! What an honor it is to be here with you tonight.” One of the songs that the teen crowd had memorized by heart was “Runaway” and had them singing, “Runaway with me. And don’t look back.”
The positive emotional vibes of the band came up during their song “Fuzzy.” Back in 2022, guitarist Betty Cisneros was diagnosed with cancer. It was mentioned that the recording of their 2024 album Black & Blue was done between chemo treatments. The crowd cheered as Vilar walked over to Cisneros, “Are you having a good time?” Cisneros responded, “I’m having a great time, but my fingers, my fingers burn, but it’s okay.”
The band made a passionate statement about the recent immigration policies. Cisneros mentioned that she had watched Björk movie and that she took away from it that, “But the truth is that we have the ability to make it better. We totally can. And it is very important to imagine the future that you want and make it happen. Isn’t that beautiful?”
Another positive vibe of the night was a birthday cake that was brought up on stage to celebrate drummer’s Aixa Vilar’s birthday. How old is she? Twenty-five, because that represents how long the band has been around for. It was mentioned that Vilar guided the band during their first few years, “We’re glad you were such a good boss.”
And a final positive vibe of the night, former lead singer Emily Wynne-Hughes came up on stage for the final three songs. Before taking the lead vocals for “Am I To Blame,” she gave a call out to all the teenagers who were singing along, mentioning that she’d noticed them singing while backstage.
Opening up the night were The Manic Standstill, playing only their second set ever (though the individual band members do play in other bands). That had the band joking, “I think this is our favorite venue,” which got the retort, “Because it is the only venue we’ve played.”
With the magnetic attitude of lead singer Adam Bones, the crowd got into the set from the very beginning. It was mentioned that Bones has been working with Go Betty Go’s Nicolette Vilar on some songs for their upcoming album that will be released on September 5th. She also joined the band for one of their songs. The song “Oh Francisco” had special meaning for the band as it is a song about a friend who passed away.
The Dollyrots setlist: My Best Friend’s Hot. Everything. Night Owl. Feed Me, Pet Me. I Know How to Party. Alligator. City of Angels. Brand New Key. I Just Wanna Play Dead. Dance Like a Maniac. Get On This Ride. Jackie Chan. Encores: Satellite. Twist Me to the Left. Because I’m Awesome.
Go Betty Go setlist: Keep Up, By Your Side, Runaway, Fuzzy, The Pirate Song, I’m from LA, Son Mis Locuras, Saturday, Party At Sea, Am I To Blame, City Lights, C’Mon.
The Manic Standstill setlist: Reasons Why, Trying Too Hard, Go Away, Bulletproof, Oh Francisco, Game Over, My Love.
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