The Antlers @ Bootleg Theater

October 30, 2009 - Los Angeles, CA

By Darren Kim

The Antlers @ Bootleg Theater - October 29, 2009 - Los Angeles, CA - Photos by Darren Kim

The Antlers came to Los Angeles and played couple shows last night. They first did an intimate in-store gig at Origami Vinyl and afterwards, delivered an incredibly emotional performance at the Bootleg Theater not too far away.

Their album Hospice is clearly my album of the year for 2009. It represents everything I love about indie music because it's something that could have never been conceived commercially through mainstream channels. Hospice is basically a beautifully crafted narrative set in a hospital about the singer desperately trying to save someone-- either from illness or themselves. Hospice seems to be the result of years of torment, isolation, and tragedies faced from the helpless realities of life, death, and letting go. It's an expression of our desire to scream and shout out our frustrations from uncontrollable circumstance.

I'm sure there's a lot more back story behind it, but it's not an album one could easily decide to sit down and forcefully write without experiencing a few things in life.

The album as a whole is an instant classic and is more of an exorcism of emotions than just another record. If you have an hour to kill, put some headphones on and give it a serious listen!

Oh and click here for some pictures of the show!