Taleen Kali has a new EP out on Valentine’s Day. Covered features the band’s versions of songs by Smashing Pumpkins, My Bloody Valentine, The Supremes, Garbage and Depeche Mode. Last night, at the appropriately-named Love Song in downtown Los Angeles, was the listening party, which included a live performance. This isn’t a review, which would be unfair on account of the fact that I was the DJ for the event. It’s more of a recap.
The Love Song is a tiny bar— like, really tiny— at the front of The Regent, a 110-year-old former movie theater-turned-concert venue. Bands typically play in a patch of open space right next to the bar’s entrance, in front a window that faces Main Street and that was the setup last night. All this makes for a very intimate performance. If you’re up at the front, which I was on account of the CDJs being set up right next to the band, you’re really face-to-face with the performers.
The show worked really well with the space. On Instagram recently, Taleen Kali (the person) described Taleen Kali (the band) as “more of a collective not so much a members-only club,” which also sums up the flow of the show. Taleen opened solo with “Miles Aways” then invited musicians to join her throughout a set packed with “deep cuts,” like “Bluets” and “Evil Eye,” as well as songs from Covered, until the stage was full.
The listening party portion of the night started about an hour after the doors opened and was a hybrid IRL/Bandcamp event. Definitely check out Covered when it comes out on Friday. My personal favorites are “Ava Adore” (Smashing Pumpkins” and “Cupid Come” (My Bloody Valentine).
Pre-Order Covered from Taleen Kali on Bandcamp.
If you want to know what made it into my DJ sets, scroll down.
Set One:
Adorable – Sunshine Smile
Orbital – Halcyon and on and on
Slowdive – Kisses
House of Love – Christine
Stereolab- Cybele’s Revenge
Broadcast- America’s Boy
Decisive Pink – Ode to Boy
Ocean Blue- Between Something and Nothing
Blushing feat. Miki Berenyi – Blame
Ride – Monaco
The Horrors – The Silence That Remains
ACTORS – Cold Eyes
Twin Tribes – Monolith
Bloc Party – Banquet
Editors – Munich
Future Islands – Glimpse
Martin Dupont – Inside Out
Joy Division – Transmission
White Lies – Farewell to the Fairground
(Taleen Kali Covered listening Party)
Set Two:
Drop Nineteens – Mayfair
Shocking Blue – Love Buzz
Mogwai – Fanzine Made of Flesh
Fontaines DC – Favourite
The Sundays – Here’s Where the Story Ends
Trashcan Sinatras – Obscurity Knocks
Beach House- Superstar
Pixies – Wave of Mutilation (U.K. Surf)
(Taleen Kali live)
Set Three:
Primal Scream, Kate Moss – Some Velvet Morning
Glass Spells – Hechizos
Sally Shapiro – Rent
Jaakko Eino Kalevi, Alma Jodorowsky – Palace in My Head (Fred Falke Remix)
Boy Harsher – Come Closer
New Order – Blue Monday
School of Seven Bells – Low Times
Curses – Elegant Death
Lebanon Hanover – Sadness Is Rebellion
Siouxsie and the Banshees – Christine
The Cure – Boys Don’t Cry
Lush – Ladykillers
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Date with the Night
Interpol – The Heinrich Maneuver
The Smiths – The Boy with the Thorn in His Side
The Primitives – Crash
Shannon and the Clams – The Moon Is in the Wrong Place
Le Tigre – Deceptacon
Wet Leg – Chaise Longue
Chemtrails – Join Our Death Cult
Teenage Fanclub – Star Sign
Jesus and Mary Chain – Head On
Sonic Youth – Bull in the Heather
Pixies – Gigantic
Stone Roses – I Wanna Be Adored
Liz O. is an L.A.-based writer and DJ. Read her recently published work and check out her upcoming gigs or listen to the latest Beatique Mix. Follow on Instagram for more updates.
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