Cannons :: Two Another :: Jane Leo
The Greek Theater, Los Angeles
(9/30/23)
Shot by Charissa Clark
Review by Charissa Clark
L.A.βs own Cannons is the goldfish that keeps getting bigger in each bigger bowlβ¦and The L.A. Greek is one of the biggest bowls there is. Forming in 2013, vocalist Michelle Joy (originally from South Florida), along with bassist/keyboardist Paul Davis and guitarist Ryan Clapham, broke out in 2019 with their monster electro-disco banger, βFire For Youβ. Since then, they have had a steady ascent to stardom, flourishing with three critically acclaimed albums, each more popular than the last. Cannons is equal parts 80s disco and dream pop, something akin to Giorgio Moroder joining Tame Impala, churning out hit after hit and banger after banger. Their much-anticipated upcoming album Heartbeat Highway (also the name of the tour) is on its way, with no official release date announced yet. Playing as-yet unreleased songs like the R&B-suffused, βCan You Feel My Heartβ and the Bella Donna-era Stevie Nicks-vibe title track, βHeartbeat Highwayβ, Cannons are moving forward and upwards, creating silky smooth music that moves, yet cuts to the quick.
With newer songs taking a more introspective, melancholic bent, Joy mentioned that she ββ¦found a new way to listen to love songs when there is no one in your life to love, and thatβs by listening for yourself and coming home to yourselfβ¦β And coming home is exactly what they did. Effervescently bringing the Greek to a fever pitch with the song βRuthless" (which Joy described as ββ¦my give-a-fucks broke and my fuck-youβs became fully functionalβ) with everyone singing along to the invective, ββ¦Youβre making me look foolish, stupid, man youβre so ruthlessβ¦ Fuck You!β, the warm-air amphitheater buzzed with excitement. Other crowd-pleasers from their 2022 album Fever Dream, like hits, βBad Dreamβ and βHurricaneβ were played for dancing, while the band offered a sweetly romantic acoustic version of βLightningβ from the same album. Closing the night with βFire For Youβ (with over 153,000,000 streams), the Greek was alit with a flaming passion. No one could have asked for a better night with everyoneβs favorite bandβwith all of L.A. shouting at them My heart just stops/When Iβm without you.
Two Another
UK-born Angus Campbell and American Elliot Porter connected through a music program (taught by Aussie electronic duo Bag Raiders) in Sydney, Australia. Bonding over their love of electronica (both claim Portishead as a major influence), Two Another have expanded their sound to include forays into jazz, soul, pop and R&B with a feel of sensual undertones. Now they live separately, one in Amsterdam and the other in Stockholm, traveling back and forth across Europe in order to make music. Truly dedicated to their craft, they know how to work a stage, with a uniquely jaw-dropping, prismatic lighting design that brought their sound to life at The Greek. Their unreleased song βHopeβ will be released this year, hopefully along with a full album. Check them out here.
Jane Leo
Recently engaged while on tour (joking that they decided to get married because they ββ¦had nothing to do for 25 daysβ), Jane Ellen Bryant and Daniel Leopold, from Austin, Texas are a power couple performing at full capacity. Despite having never played large venues, Jane Leo was right at home at The Greek, getting the crowd pumped, excited and clapping along before Cannons. Both mesmerizing and frenetic with an electro-pop club vibe, but with lo-fi 1980s guitar solos that shred, their high-energy song, βWOWβ got the whole crowd screaming with excitement. If you havenβt heard them, do yourself a favor and check them here.
Audience Reviews:
βCannons is a vibe. Iβm a little fannin. I love dancing underneath the purple sun. I love how everyone here is in a good mood, happy and dancing. Every time [Michelle] twirls, itβs a little bit of magic. I became a fan thanks to my bestie showing me them and the rest is history. I could dig deeper into what I feel when I listen to their songs, but I donβt want to and thatβs good. I just put them on and I feel good.β -Molly
βI came to see Cannons and she was amazing. They were amazing. I canβt wait to see them again. I just started listening to them a year ago thanks to my friend. Sheβs amazing and itβs amazing how one person can get such a [large] crowd to come together and engage. Sheβs engaging. I also love her stories she tells before her songs as well.β -Bree
βI like Cannons. They have a 1980s vibe. I love them. They sound like Miami Vice meets today. I love Michelle, sheβs gorgeous. The band is amazing. This is my running music. I run to Cannons. I loved every moment of the show. I became a fan from hearing the song βFire For Youβ when it was played on Ally Radio. Thatβs where I heard them first and then I did my research and became a huge fan.β -Mark
βSheβs beautiful, sheβs elegant, her voice is amazing and I loved everything. I became a fan from my dad. Their music is super calm.β-Mia
βI love every song they play. Iβm hoping they will sign the guitar we brought because last time we saw them they signed the albumβ¦Iβm hoping. The tone, the vocals, everything was nice. The stories are relatable. You close your eyes and youβre in that zone.β -Chris [Miaβs Dad]
βI liked the concert. The music was amazing and so was the band. We became a fan of Cannons from βFire For Youβ, it was super popular. I relate to the songs, especially βFire For Youβ, because they are similar to how my relationship with her [partner] happened when we started dating, it was very sexy and sensual just like Cannonsβ music.β-Rita