AURALWEST: THE EAGLE ROCK GOSPEL SINGERS
Last night I got back to my house at 3AM. The party was fun, but was really just a pregame to watch the end of my TiVo’d copy of Ray, the 2004 film starring Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles. One of the best things about Ray is the catchy Jamie Foxx covers of Ray Charles songs. For those of you who haven’t seen the film, Ray Charles is portrayed as combining gospel melodies with blues lyrics and aesthetics. So I’m on a little bit of a gospel kick hence this week’s show is LA’s premier hip gospel group, The Eagle Rock Gospel Singers. Just like Charles combined Gospel with Blues aesthetics, The Eagle Rock Gospel Singers combine Gospel with Indie aesthetics. The band started as a collective of Eagle Rock residents getting together to sing traditional hymnals. But, as it was based in the young and creative Eagle Rock neighborhood, its members soon realized their musical taste had more in common than just traditional hymns. This energizing nine piece band has created a poppy, folky, and highly addictive EP entitled Gospel. The music is traditional in its lyric, but its melodies and particularly, rhythm draws on a more contemporary aesthetic. The influence of alternative country and blues revival is particularly present. If you and your friends are feeling that Gospel fever as well, come out this Thursday and dance, drink, and sing some seriously hip hymns.
The Eagle Rock Gospel Singers
The Echo
10 o’clock on Thursday 7/18
Tickets are 7
$18 and over
