Show Review: Whitney at The Wiltern
Chicago indie-rockers Whitney are currently on tour with their new album Forever Turned Around, which was released at the end of August this year. This marks their first album since Light Upon The Lake in 2016. And yes, it was well worth the wait.
Lead-singing drummer Julien Ehrlich and lead guitarist Max Kakacek formed Whitney together in 2015. They combine their songwriting skills to create beautiful storytelling. The duo approaches songwriting as a liberating, artistic expression. There is a certain realness and honesty to their songs, which makes their music surprisingly approachable and relatable. Forever Turned Around is a reflection of how quickly life can change and priorities can shift.
If you’re not yet familiar with these guys, they’re a little Bon Iver-esque with hints of country. Despite a solemn tone to their vocals, it’s “the kind of music you can skip and dance to,” as one audience member stated during Saturday’s show.
But the duo had strong support up on stage to ensure such a euphoric musical experience on Saturday night. Rolling eleven band members deep, they featured one cello, three violins, one trumpet, two guitars, one bass and one keyboard in addition to Ehrlich’s drums and Kakacek’s lead guitar. In between songs, Ehrlich shouted random jokes at the crowd, such as “We’re just getting warmed up!” or “I got a nice buzz going here!” or “Tequila Soda!”
Before the end of the show, Ehrlich complimented the audience, calling them “the most respectful crowd” Whitney has had in LA. He remarked that there are often many people looking at their phones during shows. Sadly, a symptom of today’s technology-driven society and the general sentiment that ‘if it isn’t on Instagram, it didn’t happen.’ “We haven’t had that here tonight!” Ehrlich proudly remarked. And maybe that’s why after playing their “fake last song,” as Ehrlich jokingly labeled it, Whitney returned to the stage with a hit-filled encore, finishing their Saturday set with “Southern Nights,” “No Woman” and “Valley (My Love).”
You can catch Whitney tonight at the Yost Theater in Santa Ana before they head to Europe for the remainder of November. Or if you find yourself in their hometown Chicago in early December, the band is scheduled to play five shows at Thalia Hall. Check out their full tour schedule on their website whitneytheband.com.
