LANY Brings The House Down In Austin
Alt-pop newcomers show they’re ready to tackle the big stage
With hundreds of screaming fans singing every line from every song, you’d expect LANY (pronounced “lay-nee”) to be a household name. And after their performance at Emo’s in Austin, Texas, this relatively new alternative-pop trio based in Los Angeles, California proved they’re ready for superstardom.
The group formed back in 2014 when Paul Klein (lead vocals, guitar, keyboard) met up with Les Priest (keyboards, guitar, backup vocals) and Jake Goss (drums, Roland SPD-SX) in Nashville, Tennessee and recorded two songs, one of which, “Walk Away,” went viral on SoundCloud.
I hadn’t heard of LANY, which is an acronym for “Los Angeles New York,” until a month ago when a co-worker sent me one of their songs, “Super Fan.” The group has a laid-back electronic-pop sound mixed with an 80s vibe, that’s captivating. Fans of The 1975 and Phoenix will enjoy listening to their music.
This was my first time at Emo’s. When I arrived at the concert venue around 7 p.m. when the gates opened, I was shocked at the line that snaked around the building to get in. Having done a little research on the group I knew they were gaining popularity, but I didn’t realize how established they were within the 16–25 age demographic.
Visually, there’s nothing special about Emo’s. The acoustics, however, were fantastic. When the guitarist/keyboardist for Norwegian pop singer Dagny, who opened the show, struck a wrong chord, the sound reverberated throughout the venue creating a cringe-worthy moment. Often the bass can become so overpowering that it muddles out a wrong note, but not here. You could hear these little details in the music while still feeling the bass.
The crowd erupted as LANY members Priest and Goss took the stage, but it wasn’t until Klein came out dressed in a black leather jacket, white shirt, and dark pants, with his long hair let down (yes that bad-boy rocker look) that shrieks from the girls made me question whether I was at a boy band concert or not.
Despite being relatively new to the music scene, LANY looked like seasoned vets. The experience gained touring with Halsey, Ellie Goulding, X Ambassadors, and supporting John Mayer on seven of his tour dates clearly showed as they delivered a polished performance.
Klein tossed a bouquet of roses to the crowd during “Flowers On The Floor,” which sadly didn’t survive as a flock of fans were trying to grab it. And the song has this cool chord progression where the guitar mimics the lyrics that’s super catchy.
As the concert progressed, I finally understood why there was such an active teen fan base. Most of LANY’s songs are about being young and in love, something these teens seem to relate to.
In “The Breakup,” Klein sings:
“And my mama always said, ‘hey take it slow’ / But how the hell do you fall in love/ the last time I checked, you can’t fall in slow-mo.”
While not the most poetic of lyrics, we all remember what it’s like being young and falling fast.
Musically the band is gifted. Klein commanded the stage throughout the night as the band played nearly their entire songbook, including hits like “Super Far,” “Good Girls,” and “ILYSB,” from their self-titled debut album released this past June, which makes you want to move.
To truly experience all that LANY has to offer, seeing them live is a must. There’s something about feeling the beat of their music coupled with nostalgic memories of being a young teen that’ll leave you buzzing and wanting to hear more.
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