All the way from New York, Frog was welcomed with open arms to The Echo in Los Angeles Saturday night. “I like this town a lot,” lead vocalist Daniel Bateman told us after their first couple songs, “I’ve been here before, but not like this, y’know?” The band definitely made an impression on us, getting frequent laughs from the audience. I’m not exactly sure if we even knew why we were laughing half the time, but it’s undeniable that the band carries a contagious sort of whimsy. It seemed we all took joy in watching lead vocalist Daniel and his brother Steve Bateman freestyle, while Thomas White on bass clearly wondered why they weren’t using the set list. After playing “BLAMING IT ALL ON THE LIFESTYLE” off of their latest album 1000 Variations On The Same Song, Daniel shared that he got the line “…Isn’t it sublime that the drug store is keeping me alive” from a Katherine Hepburn movie. “I was like, ‘That’s hot’,” he said, tuning his guitar before the next song, which was a recurring theme that added to the relaxed vibe of the show. Daniel was excited to introduce the new piano he got from Guitar Center on Hollywood Boulevard, which he used to kick off “JUST USE YR HIPS”, a groovy number that showed off the magic Daniel could make with his new instrument. “He’s goin’ rogue!” yelled an audience member, when Bateman burst into a spontaneous piano solo. Between the comforting tunes and playful nature of the band, Frog does a good job of making you forget you’re not hanging out with friends you’ve known forever. Take my word for it and don’t miss them next time they play in your area!