Nothing quite beats live music on a Friday night. It sets the tone for the rest of the weekend. In LA, the options are endless. Something exciting is going down on every corner of the city. Last Friday night, I spent my evening with indie rock band Far Caspian at Echoplex in Echo Park.
The Mind Behind Far Caspian
Ireland-born Joel Johnston is the creative mastermind behind Far Caspian. Since his debut in 2018, Far Caspian has become a force in the world of indie rock. Songs like “Between Days,” “Let’s Go Outside,” and “A Dream Of You” have brought the artist countless streams and a large fanbase. The multi-instrumentalist and producer blends lo-fi rock with dreamy pop making an ethereal sound. Johnston’s soft vocals, layered guitars, and ambient production styles create a sound unlike any other. Everything is written and recorded by Johnston.
Back in July, Far Caspian released his third album Autofiction. Prior to the album, the musician reached a creative burnout and began to question his career. While contemplating his career, Johnston stayed involved with music, producing for other bands. In the midst of collaborating, his creative spark was reignited. This burst would later lead to Autofiction.
On Autofiction, Far Caspian brings his lush, signature production styles on old demo and brand new songs to make a fresh indie rock album. Johnston has an undeniable gift for making music that undeniably sounds like him. There is no other sound quite like it. Autofiction adds to that. It’s a sonic world easy to get lost in whether it be through the dreamy vocals or spacey instrumentals. For the last month, Far Caspian has brought these songs to life on the road on his North American tour.
The Show Goes On
Friday night’s show at Echoplex closed out Far Caspian’s North American tour. More often than not, every artist places a lot of importance each time they play in LA. They bring their A-game to make the show as memorable as possible. Not only was the show memorable for the performance the band put on, but also for the events all leading to their set.
Early on Friday morning, the band’s bus broke down in Fresno as they made their way to LA. They were almost certain they would have to cancel the show, but luckily for them and for their fans, the show went on. The show ended up being a late one, but that did not stop their passionate fans from showing up for the band. As soon as Far Caspian and his talented ensemble of bandmates arrived at the venue, they jumped right into the show. Excitement filled the room as the team rushed to set up the stage.
They were playing off each other and the energy of the crowd. The set featured deep cuts, fan favorites and tracks from Autofiction. It took a lot to pull off Friday night’s show after the series of unfortunate events leading up to it, but it was the perfect way to conclude the tour. Far Caspian’s songs live on stage truly took the crowd to a whole other world.
Be sure to stream Autofiction.
