The Seattle-based folk rock outfit visited SoCal for their second time ever. First, performing two back-to-back shows in LA with an intimate set at Origami Vinyl in Echo Park and then KCRW One Colorado Listener Event in Pasadena. Motopony’s self-titled debut record, which was released this past month, charted at #1 on KCRW and the top 200 on the CMJ Chart. In support of the album and new music video for “King of Diamonds,” the band has officially kicked off their summer tour and will be back in LA on July 29.
In celebration of Southwest Airlines 40th anniversary, Motopony is performing at four airports, from coast to coast, all in one day. The guys are set to perform at the Southwest Airlines terminals in Baltimore, St. Louis, Dallas and Los Angeles. Starting at the Baltimore Washington Airport this morning, here is the band performing their signature track “King of Diamonds.”
Here’s a recap of the last few days for the band:
Wednesday, June 28th |We found ourselves in San Diego without much hassle. After two hours of sleep in Bakersfield, we killed the rest of the leg from SF by 4pm. Something about the air in this low cal city puts your feet on the ground a little softer. It’s just chill, like a way back kind of chill. As soon as we hit the Motel 6 it was like OK to let our guards down and be as tired as we felt from the trip. I dream-floated for a half hour on my magic carpet of a hotel bed while I waited for some friends to take me to get a hamburger. Soon after, we found the venue around the corner.
The Casbah is like the best of Seattle’s bars and clubs rolled into one easy-uppy spliff. Like the basement cool of the chacha and the smoking courtyard of lindas. The low stage makes you feel closer to the people like the sunset tavern in Ballard and the sound was crisp without being sharp. Our bartender didn’t blink when I got a nice beer with my ticket. Actually, the staff was some of the mellowest dudes I think I’ve ever encountered in the industry. Totally awake but just not aggressive like I’m used to. Maybe they had a case of the Mondays. The show was well attended for the first act…but being “mondaimatory,” it thinned out hard by the time we played. This kind of show is important to me. The people still there are there because they like you enough to show up to work a little hungover on Tuesday morning. They aren’t many, but they are there and that means something to me. One scruffy ruffian high-fived me before the show and said he had hitched a ride to see us from a few hundred miles away. No line at the merch table, sparse claps twixt songs, and no girls jumping on stage to dance tonight, boys. This is the show that matters to me because I want the music to mean something even if I’m not the king of the universe in that moment.
We met this rad band from SF called The Ian Fays. We promised each other shows in our respected towns and laughed when we realized we were in the same hotel. Our hotel is literally around the corner from the airport. What a town, man.
Baltimore: We landed in a Baltimore rainstorm no problem. This climate is like pretty much inside out from Seattle. Outside the temperature and humidity is exactly how I keep my apartment, but inside all the constant A/C makes me want to wear a coat. Much like cool summer nights on our beaches. Odd. I’m in my hotel now. I have to wake up in five hours and play seven shows on planes and in airports all across the USA. Happy birthday Southwest, and many more. -DB
Follow the band on twitter for updates: @Motopony
