bitter:sweet at the el rey

what
a
show.


you've heard bitter:sweet's music even if their name isn't ringing a bell. their songs have been featured in so many tv shows (lipstick junge, grey's anatomy, nip/tuck) and movies (the devil wears prada, because i said so) over the past year or two. their music is so rich with style and sophistication, it's no wonder they provide the background music for many "swanky party scenes." bitter:sweet is composed of Shana Halligan on vocals/keyboard and Kiran Shahani on bass. their band also includes a drummer, guitarist, dj, and violinist, however these musicians are not constant.

as for their sound, bitter:sweet describes themselves as "Portishead meets Zero 7 with a bit of Serge Gainsbourg and Everything But The Girl mixed in for good measure." if i were forced to put a label on their genre, i would call it lounge/trip-hop/electronica-esque/with old hollywood sampling. i must say, i was damn impressed with Shana. her voice is so sultry and sexy, i found myself mesmerized by her. she looked like a lounge singer from the forties in her gold shimmer floor length dress and flower tucked behind her fire-red locks. my boyfriend and i pegged her as "jenny lewis' sexy older sister."

the vibe of the show was so mellow and almost trance-like. the crowd got down to tunes like "dirty laundry" and "the bomb" then swayed in synchronization to "bittersweet faith" and "moving forward." the el rey was the perfect venue for this show. it's intimate setting gave everyone a great view. definitely a show for the books.