Show: The Airborne Toxic Event
Date: January 23, 2013
Venue: The Mayan
City: Los Angeles, CA
The Airborne Toxic Event
Photos by Nicolas Bates
Written by Dan Sinclair
Tonight’s live performance here in downtown Los Angeles, CA is sold out and upon entrance it is clear this writer is getting nowhere near the stage as The Mayan’s dance floor is mobbed with enthused fans for the city’s own The Airborne Toxic Event. As I find a decent spot in the back, I am thankful for my height as I can see clearly over the (mostly) shorter hipsters in front of me. And since the band started only a few miles north of here in Los Feliz, everyone and their mother claims to be either a relative or friend. I’m sure none of them are lying… probably closer to delusional. But who cares? Let’s just have some toxic fun!
Lights go down and a pounding bass drum can be heard as Daren Taylor must have taken his spot in back, while the rest of the band walks out and waves to the crowd under the giant bird with an arrow through its head above them. Steven Chen mans his guitar to the right with bass player Noah Harmon next to him. Anna Bulbrook walks to the other side of the stage to take care of the viola for the evening and last, but not least, frontman Mikel Jollett takes center stage.
Jollett picks up his guitar and sings, “We were born without time, nameless in the arms of a mother, father and God,” kicking the show off with “All at Once,” much to the crowd’s delight. Anna provides the soothing background with her electric viola. Everyone up front moves in rhythm to the steady beat, especially my favorite fan in the crowd this night. He is an elderly gentlemen who has to be well into his 70s, but don’t tell him that as he seems to be the biggest Airborne Toxic Event fan in all the world. Nothing can wipe that gigantic smile off his face as he dances and bops his head with more enthusiasm than anyone else around him.
Jollett says, “Good evening, Los Angeles. Welcome to the rock show.” And the spunky old man (and pretty much everyone else present) gets excited for the next song, “Wishing Well,” singing along to every word. The old man’s Adam’s apple moves rapidly, “Standing on the bus stop, feeling your head pop out in the night,” and he doesn’t miss a single beat.
Steven Chen moves to the piano at the back of the stage for the slower “Half of Something Else,” and then shortly thereafter all musicians, save Jollett and Anna, leave the stage. The pair stays to play “Duet,” and “Graveyard Near My House” together for a more personal feel to the show.
Unfortunately, this gesture is marred by dozens of assholes at the bar, almost ignoring the show completely, talking loudly about bullshit as if this were some open mic night at a shithole dive bar. Seriously, every single person at that bar was a complete asshole. Who the fuck shells out $30 for a show and doesn’t listen to the music? You dicks probably talk at movie theaters, too.
But worry not, the douches at the bar were then drowned out as the rest of the band returned and played the much louder hits, “Timeless,” “Numb” and “Gasoline.” This really got the crowd going. The old man especially loved “Numb,” as I bullshit you not, he was actually jumping up and down higher than I’ve ever seen someone over 50 jump (and trust me, I watch old people jump, like, all the time).
Anna continues to rock the viola and plays keyboards at times and Harmon busts out the stand-up bass from time to time as the rocking never ceases to stop for the rest of the night. Some of the highlights include “Does This Mean You’re Moving On?” “Welcome to Your Wedding Day,” “Sometime Around Midnight” and “All I Ever Wanted.”
It doesn’t take the band too long to return for an encore, and though they know they will have to share their beloved band with the rest of the world, the crowd tonight at the Mayan is thankful to have at least this one night of The Airborne Toxic Event all to themselves.
Oh, and that old man? He’s still going. He’s ready for like, ten more encores.