La Luz and News of the Universe
By Ren Crenshaw
11/1/24
Last Friday night, I had the great pleasure of going to the Wonder Ballroom and seeing La Luz live. I didn’t know too much about their music, besides a few of their songs saved in my Spotify here and there. But I had a friend visiting town (shoutout to Millie) who had been listening to them for years and wanted to go. We decided to brave the hour-plus bus ride into Portland (ended up getting an Uber because we took the wrong bus way past the venue) and I can confidently say that it was worth it!
We arrived late due to my shortcomings in navigating public transportation and missed the opener, Tele Novella. BUT, we came at the perfect time to get up close to the stage before La Luz started. The Wonder Ballroom is a cute venue — small enough to be intimate without being too crowded. It was very Portland with its murals on the walls and endless men wearing beanies. The stage was simple and yet transformed with the help of some decorations and a projector.
La Luz came on with a bang, toting a giant metallic sun complete with eyes and a mouth (teeth included). My friend and I watched, mouths agape, as the band frolicked around the stage, hidden by a large sun staring at us and projections of an intergalactic, colorful UFO behind them. The mesmerizing projections continued after that thrilling start, changing with each song. Behind the band displayed all kinds of graphics from groovy, squiggly flowers, to video game inspired stars, to patterns reminiscent of the hippie-high-utopianism of the 60s.
Despite a hiccup in the volume of the mics on the first song, the band was electric, going from one song to the next with ease and constant energy. Shana Cleveland, the main singer and guitarist, had a comfortability and happiness that was infectious. As she danced around the stage in mary janes and a collared, patterned dress, I was reminded of the joy that women in music are often forced to surrender to the misogynistic notion of “being taken seriously.” But the women of La Luz want to have fun, know that music should be fun, and are here for a colorful, beautiful time!
I knew that feminine joy would be front and center at this show as I read the description of the album La Luz is touring with, News of the Universe. An excerpt from Sub Pop below:
“Unashamedly vulnerable, unabashedly feminine, and undeniably triumphant, the release is another knockout record from a band so reliably great that it has perhaps led people to overlook how pioneering La Luz really are: women of color in indie music forging their own path by following their own artistic star into galaxies beyond musical trends, always led by an earnest belief in the cosmic power of love and a great riff.”
Always led by an earnest belief in the cosmic power of love and a great riff. What a banger sentence, and undeniably true to their performance. Jimi Hendrix style riffs from Shana Cleveland punctuated the angelic background vocals of Maryam Qudus (keyboard) and Abbey Blackwell (bass). Audrey Johnson kept the heartbeat of the band, furiously drumming away in the back of the stage without even a hair out of place.
News of the Universe is a fantastic album filled with ambient, intergalactic sounds, smooth vocals and distinctly futuristic retro influence. My fav songs include Dandelion and Strange World. La Luz put on a lovely show that left us feeling warm, light, and in awe. Their psychedelic 60’s inspired aesthetic paired with hard-core talent made something special to witness.
Next time La Luz is in town, go say hi and be taken into the cosmic power of love and a great riff!
-Ren <3
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