Rules : The New Largo & Liam Finn

Last night I went to the new Largo space on La Cienega - the old Coronet Theatre. The old space on Fairfax set up as a supper club with the musicians playing on a tiny stage is vastly different in this new theatre. A larger theatre with rich red curtains and theatre seating (assigned seating) that still maintains the intimacy that the old Largo had but on a slightly larger scale.

Don't bother pulling out your phone, camera or gum or the staff will come around with a flash light asking to put it away. They are strict - probably to maintain the feeling of a show. I caught two shots on my camera before getting reprimanded.

The new space just opened on June 10, so there is no food or alcohol being served yet - but like any theatrical experience, there will not be drinks served or drank during the show ( I believe).

But enough about the space - how was the show? Fantastic. Superb. Ridiculous. Phenomenal.
Liam Finn is a machine - described as "Animal" from the Muppet's on drums, and showman for sure.

When the curtains first opened there was a person in a cute white bear suit playing the drum or mimicking drumming - I am still not sure.....and I am still not totally sure if that was Liam Finn in the suit, although people were sure it was. Curtain closed.....to open to the bearded New Zealander singing "Fire In Your Belly".

The show was him and DJ singing back up and playing some sort of tambourine/drum kit. His vocals were clean and he engaged the audience with stories of his songs and enthusiasm for playing LA at the new Largo. How did he maintain the scale that he brings to the album? By sampling himself on one instrument and moving onto the next and to the next - his timing was ON.

No doubt his dad Neil Finn (Crowded House) and Elliot Smith have a great deal of influence on him. You know when you go see a band live and sometimes you never want to hear the band's name ever mentioned again or it makes you love him more? Well...I think I heart Liam Finn more. If you still haven't checked him out...please do. Now.