Let’s Talk About: HAIM In Concert

ImageI had been waiting patiently for the HAIM concert for an extremely long time, and I can’t believe the concert has already come and gone. I know that I have raved about all of the concerts I have attended recently but this concert exceeded my expectations. I’ve heard with frequency how amazing the sisters are live, and they certainly proved that to be true.

ImageTennis opened for HAIM, which I was very excited about. I love their music and think they are very talented. Unfortunately, the music was significantly louder than the vocals. One interesting things that happened was when Alaina told a story about how she was stuck in traffic on the way to the venue and desperately had to use the bathroom, and when she asked where the bathroom was, the man pointed to a restroom which only had a urinal in it. He apologized and said that had been the bathroom for the last forty years. Alaina used this story to emphasize the power of women in music and the necessity for more. She discussed how musicians like HAIM are making that idea a more prominent and accepted one. I thought that was an extremely awesome story/message to tell (even though the story revolved around a bathroom…..).

When HAIM finally came to the stage, I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the fact that I was actually seeing them live. Their mom is from Philadelphia, and was at the concert. They talked a lot about the fact that she was from there which lead them to have a connection to Philly. The energy that radiated throughout the venue was unlike anything I had ever experienced at a concert before. The girls killed it. Whether they were singing, jamming, or shaking a maraca, the passion and love they put into each song was palpable (was that super cheesy?). Este and Alana have constant banter that is entertaining and enjoyable.Image Danielle kills it with her incredible guitar licks and solos. At one point, they performed their cover of XO by Beyonce, in which Dash played the guitar and Danielle played the drums. It was absolutely amazing to see in person how truly talented the girls (and Dash and Tommy) are, as well as their versatility. One of the things I was most looking forward to was the drum circle-type jam they do at the end of each show. Not to continuously say, ‘it was just so amazing,’ but it really was. No words I could say could properly convey the experience of all that is a HAIM concert. I have heard their cover of “Oh Well” a million times, yet was still blown away. To say the least, this is a concert I will never forget, one that probably won’t be topped for quite some time.

My Q&A With: Scavenger Hunt

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Where to begin? I was lucky enough to be able to ask Jill from Scavenger Hunt a few questions before she and the band performed at my campus last night. Scavenger Hunt is on the Campus Consciousness Tour with Capital Cities. It was a great day filled with extraordinary performances, but I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start from the beginning.

Scavenger Hunt is a Los Angeles based duo-turned-band comprised of lead singer Jill Lamoureux and Dan Mufson, and now also includes two other band members. The band is rapidly starting to gain attention for their catchy songs, friendly fan interaction and, of course, talent. Their self-titled, debut EP was recently released with four electrifying songs, as well as two remixes. One of the most well know songs form their EP is titled “Dreamers.” It is garnering a lot of attention for its mesmerizing pop-synth vibe, seeing plays in stores such as American Apparel.

The Campus Consciousness tour served as the very first tour for Scavenger Hunt, yet it appears as if they have been touring for several years. On my campus they performed both a stripped down set in the afternoon as well as a full set later in the evening. At both, Jill, Dan, and the band took control of the music and the stage. The band had great interaction with each other and a perfect, fun execution of each song.

It is quite apparent in seeing their performances that the band takes a lot of pride in their music and their fans. It is obvious they love what they are doing, which is one of the things most enjoyable about live performances and concerts. Seeing the raw talent and passion on the stage is just something that cannot be replicated. Jill is such a talented vocalist and is able to engage any audience, in this case, students on the lawn in the afternoon versus a filled auditorium in the night. Dan consistently brings bold baselines (who doesn’t love baselines?). Together with the rhythmic drumming and guitar riffs, the band encompasses pop/dance/rhythms that are heard in songs quickly raising up the charts. Not surprisingly, they were recently ranked in the top fifty of the Billboard Heatseekers chart (and I can assure you they will continue to rise!). Jill came out after both sets to talk with students, proving her dedication to this band and appreciation for those who support it, which is always so refreshing and nice to see.

Jill and I

Jill and I

I sincerely look forward to watching Scavenger Hunt’s success over time. Now for the questions Jill had answered earlier in the week:

I know Dan is from the Philadelphia area and Jill is from Kansas, how did you both meet and get together musically?

We met in LA! Dan came to a show of mine, and approached me afterwards. He is an advertising composer and was looking for a vocalist to sing on some of his commercials. We ended up writing several TV ads together, and loved writing together so much that we decided to start our own project. Scavenger Hunt was born! This was less than a year ago and it’s been a crazy ride ever since.

 According to the bio on your Facebook music page, you worked together on a song for a commercial just one day after you formed Scavenger Hunt. What was that experience like?

The first time we wrote together, we realized that we gelled creatively and loved each others’ musical styles. We actually wrote commercials together for a few months before we created Scavenger Hunt.

 Where does the name Scavenger Hunt come from?

Dan always likened the music industry in LA to a “scavenger hunt.” He felt that every person you meet has the potential to lead your career in new direction. It’s a great way to describe how we met, actually! When it came time to name our band, it just felt natural.

One of my favorite songs off your EP is “Dreamers”, particularly for the cool bassline and 80’s vibe. Where do you find inspiration for the sound you want to create in writing and putting together songs? 

We LOVE music of all genres and are very inspired by other artists. We listen to music new and old, all the time and it influences our writing.  We also write according to our mood. We wanted “Dreamers” to make the listener groove and want to get up and dance!

Check out “Dreamers” here
Support the EP here