Moby: Wiltern Review & Interview Teaser

Contributor:  Colin Tyler

As I stood in front of the Wiltern Theater located on the western edge of Koreatown in Los Angeles, I couldn’t help but feel reflective. Maybe it was the streets and sidewalks that were left soggy from a long day of rain, so uncommon to LA. Maybe it was the countless memories that were being evoked as I ran through the repertoire of songs I hoped to hear; songs that had been part of my life’s soundtrack for so many years. Whatever the cause, it seemed to be the right mental state for a Moby concert.

Upon entering, Moby was already hammering away at his set list, and I quickly realized this was not an artist that could be pegged as solely “reflective.” His music was as diverse and eclectic as his audience. The stage dynamic was a bit more illusive than the commonplace rock show as well. His backing band was more reminiscent of a blues jam session; constantly swapping instruments and taking off stage breaks. This continuous renewal of fresh faces kept the audience, and me, notably attentive.

Although Moby was always highlighted by stage lights, he rarely played the “front man” role. He was more of a shape-shifter, constantly moving from guitar to keyboard to bongos. There were also long durations where Moby even took the back seat to the vocals, allowing his band members Kelly Scarr and Diane Charlemagne to show off their chops.

But this music wasn’t about vocal dexterity. It was an assemblage of just damn good songs and I had forgotten the sheer quantity of them. We Are All Made of Stars, Southside and Why Does My Heart Feel so Bad were just a few. Immediately following Natural Blues, he played the song again, only stripped down to a guitar and vocal, bringing to light a more somber feeling within the song. He demonstrated the process again after Pale Horses, with just as much significance.

After a glass or two of wine, I noticed the music critic in me beginning to turn off. And then he played Porcelain.. It was definitely a high point in the night and the song became almost transcendent as the entire crowd seemed to connect so well with it. I even found myself feeling the need to text a loved one how much I cared for them!

But he had arranged for more than just “touchy-feely” songs during his two hour set. He briefly mimicked a Nirvana guitar riff and even delivered a short rendition of War Pigs by Black Sabbath during the encore. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Whether blues, pop, grunge or metal; none got the crowd moving like his electronic anthems. It was nearly impossible to standstill during Lift Me Up as my shoulder to shoulder neighbors bounced and reveled.

But no matter how synthetic the music became, there was still an intrinsic element of realism carrying the night along. He was honest and vulnerable between songs. At one point he even joked about his sexual insecurities. To me, the entire night was a testament of what a true artist should be: Ever growing, ever changing and truly honest.

Here is the Exclusive interview with Moby from The Wiltern 10/14/09.  Check back on Moby’s LP33.tv channel for the full interview