Concert Review + Photos: Elohim @ The Rickshaw Stop
As a volunteer curator for A Song A Day, I focus on discovering new and under-appreciated Blues Rock music. I’m drawn to soul-shattering vocals and seductive guitar solos that take you to a complete state of bliss. Even though I’m exposed to a variety of new and exciting music every day, I often find myself glossing over the less familiar genres and sticking to the music I know best.
Walking into the Rickshaw Stop on Friday night (3/31), I didn’t know much about Elohim. I’ve listened to her music on Spotify and read a few articles about her growing popularity, but I was walking into the show with, essentially, a clean slate. Little did I know I’d leave an avid supporter.
Kicking off the night were LA-based artists Luna Shadows and DRÆMINGS. Decked out in all white, Luna Shadows showed off her powerhouse vocals with her new single “Cheerleader” and surprised the crowd with an unreleased song “Tokoyo.” DRÆMINGS took the stage shortly after, rocking the stage with their sparkly outfits, light-up sneakers and their infectious positivity. Newly released “Fire and Hell” and “Like a Ghost” were the most popular songs among the crowd.
As setup for Elohim’s performance began, you could feel the tension in the air. Music was playing during the intermission, the lights were flashing, microphones were being tested and the crowd couldn’t stop moving their feet. After a few long minutes of waiting, the music faded, and the lights slowly dimmed. Wearing dark sunglasses and a long, white hoodie with “XA AX” plastered on the front, the mysterious Elohim took the stage.
While performing, you can’t help but feel mystified by her presence. She doesn’t speak, her hair is always draped in front of her face, and the large LED screen constantly flashing behind her makes it extremely difficult to catch a good glimpse. While I found her stage presence captivating, I was more intrigued to learn that the name Elohim is actually a sacred Hebrew name for God. Here you have a performer who hides her true identity from the public, sings openly about her day-to-day struggles with life and whose stage name translates to God. Upon piecing this all together, my first thought was “I can definitely get behind this.”
In an interview with Nylon.com, she gives a brief explanation as to why she decided to choose Elohim as her stage name, stating “It has held various meanings throughout history. To me it is love, acceptance, and confidence. It is strength in my art and in myself. It is beauty and spirituality.” While it’s an important part of her identity, it appears the rawness and vulnerability in her lyrics is what fans love most. Her debut EP Elohim takes listeners through a roller coaster of emotions from love to heartbreak to figuring out the world that surrounds her.
While that all sounds deep and dark, her music is surprisingly fun and upbeat. As she played through her EP, nearly everyone in the crowd was dancing, singing and smiling. About midway through her performance of “Xanax”, a woman behind me turns to her friend and enthusiastically says, “Are you kidding me? Holy ****.” It’s clear that her fans are dedicated. Many of which were wearing her merch, including surgical face masks that read “Hallucinating” and hoodies that said “Silence is Cool.” I also noticed a few Anti Social Social Club sweatshirts in the crowd, which seem to fit perfectly with the tone of her music.
For her encore, she played “Hallucinating,” “She Talks Too Much,” and “Sensations.” “Hallucinating” was definitely the crowd favorite. Filled with trumpets and violins, the song looks and feels like a celebration. Watching the crowd jump around nonsensically with their hands in the air was fun. If she would have ended the show after those songs, the crowd would have went home satisfied. However, she decided to put an exclamation point on the night by grabbing a bouquet of flowers from backstage and handing out a flower to everyone that decided to sick around. Although she never spoke a word on stage, the amount of hugs she gave to fans at the end of the show made it clear that she was thankful for all their support.
Overall, Elohim’s performance was exciting and lively. She never speaks to the crowd, but somehow manages to capture their attention and keep them engaged throughout the show. Her lyrics are raw, her tone is dark, but her music will make you move. Keep your eye’s peeled for new music and potentially a full-length album coming this year.
