“We’re going to stretch this song out. Usually I do a comedy routine in the middle of the show, but I didn’t do that tonight,” joked Mike Milosh, of the band Rhye, during the closing set of the Culture Collide festival at Echo Park United Methodist Church on Saturday, October 12. The Los Angeles-based indie band played tracks from their debut album, Woman, that were rife with beats, strings, strong baselines, and Milosh’s countertenor voice. Canadian singer-producer Milosh and Danish producer Robin Hannibal coyly kept the identity of the sextet a secret when releasing the first single, “Open,” and this led to speculation about the genders of its members. And there’s a softness to the band’s tone that may have sparked the speculation, but live, at this Levi’s-sponsored performance, Rhye had the sound and feel of a jazz band with rhythm to spare and a playful mischievousness.

Milosh finished the hour-long set with a new song, “Slow Down,” from his forthcoming solo album Jetlag. “We’re going to try an experiment tonight,” he said, as the audience cheered. But he silenced everyone with this warning, “Wait, what if it’s crazy?” As applause got louder, Milosh explained that the band just learned the new song in sound check and had never played it live. The melodic tune, with a strong percussive beat, brought the intimate performance to a close and sent the audience out of the church and onto Sunset Boulevard where Brite Spot’s orange sign and promises of freshly baked pies beckoned. That was one way to keep the sugar rush going.

By Elizabeth Varnell

Setlist:
“Verse”
“3 Days”
“Major Minor Love”
“The Fall”
“Shed Some Blood”
“Last Dance”
“Open”
“Hunger”
“Slow Down”

 

Pictured: Mike Milosh, of Rhye, at the Culture Collide festival in Echo Park.
Photo courtesy of Levi’s 

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