A plain white house in East Hollywood would normally not draw the attention of a passerby, but with a narrow and crowded driveway full of haphazardly parked cars and a long line of chattering young adults, it is now bound to pique curiosity. Lively conversations and cigarette smoke wafted into the air as the setting sun cast a subtle golden hour glow. The distorted cacophony of sound checks blared from within the house as fans waited right outside the door. They were here to have a chance to witness Blimp – a frenetic and at times explosive four-piece act – open for the loud and sonically unbound trio out of Orange County, Julie who would be celebrating the release of their debut album my anti-aircraft friend.
As nighttime arrived by 7:30, people were now given entry into the unassuming house. Inside was a light wooden floor, posters of Linkin Park and The Fader hanging on cream colored walls, and an array of bright lights illuminating the space where the bands would perform. A drum kit with a kick drum that seems to have been scrawled with dark colored crayons was set up in front of a rack of electric guitars while tall and dark Sunn cabinet speakers stood menacingly in both corners. Photographers and videographers made their way to the very front as the house rapidly filled to capacity. Soon enough, Blimp took to the stage and played songs from their album Egg. A gritty energy replete with frantic drumming, furious strumming, a three string Ibanez bass, and harsh screaming coupled with a wonderfully chaotic dynamic set the tone for the audience, which they took very well. Blimp’s assault would have been enough for a final headlining act, but this certainly was not the end of the night’s performances.
Julie quietly set up their instruments as the house cheered upon their arrival. After a quick microphone check, guitarist Keyan Pourzand played one chord and everyone instantly knew what was coming. A dramatic shift in energy could be felt as fans braced themselves for the song that would bellow out of the monstrous Sunn cabinets. Alexandria Elizabeth slowly played the song’s distinctive bassline to create even more tension as the crowd anxiously moved in excitement. The guitar suddenly let out a sustained cry, waiting to be led into what was coming. Dillon Lee then hit the kick and snare drum, and with that, Julie unleashed their first single “flutter.” The crowd jumped and became a joyously writhing mass, freed from the inhibitions of daily life by the sounds of heavy distortion and thick low end. Despite the growing heat and humidity, the band would keep the momentum going as they played new songs from their album without letting up, finishing their set with an encore: an unreleased song titled “twee.” Julie’s performance is a confident step forward into their future as they continue to push their creative boundaries – and the durability of their amplifiers.
Jeremy Ruiz is an independent photographer based in the San Fernando Valley specializing in portraiture and live music photography. He spent three years training as a student photojournalist and photo editor for the Valley Star, the independent student newspaper of Los Angeles Valley College, and has gone on to win multiple awards from the Journalism Association of Community Colleges. In his spare time, he likes to brew coffee and practice bass. IG @itzalku_sfv
