Shaela Miller played a pair of sold out CD release shows for her new album After the Masquerade .
I missed the sold out show at the Slice, March 22 and the matinee at the Owl Acoustic Lounge on March 23.
But caught the show that night, though I missed opening acts Carter Felker and the Denim Daddies.
MIller and her crack band, Bassist Paul Holden, Taylor Ackerman on keyboards and guitar a little later in the set, drummer Tyler Bird. Skinny Dyck on steel guitar and guitar and Austrian Banman singing background vocals were playing the new album of original primarily really laid back dark wave / ’80s pop style music from beginning to end.
They set down a hypnotic set of synth heavy ’80s pop which is a big departure from the classic country sounds she has been exploring over the past few years.
Shaela Miller’s sweet vulnerability continues to be the common thread throughout all of her musical faces in the new music has it has been throughout her career.
She gave old crowd favourite “Station,” a new dark wave sheen which shone during the show.
One of my favourites featured bassist Paul Holden referencing the Peanuts theme in a new song “Waterline”
They wound down her set with a few older songs including long time crowd favourite “ Vicious Bitches, ”and a couple from her last album “ Big Hair Small City,”—“Crying Blues,” and “ 700.”
They also added a cover of the Yazzoo’s “ Bad Connection.”
They were called back for an encore which included a cover of Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus.”
— By Richard Amery, L.a. Beat Editor
