Little Dragon was distinct, gorgeous, intensely so, simple, like tracing an intricate line drawing or using a small electric stove to feed a colony. Like seeing graffiti coming alive and living, or watching a herd of tattoos figuring out the best way to climb a steep wall. The rushing amorous contact of a sold out Echoplex show, the first floor only floor darkness, the merging of concrete and pockets of light, the angles we lean, tip toe, stretch around a pole, to see singer her differently. Little Dragon, a very talented Swedish bearded boy band and a warrior melodic geisha, was wondrous, the porcelain doll dispositioned singer led their sweetly couture dreamsicle performance.

The stage coloring was bright reds, deep purples, and a turquoise underwater world. The backdrop was a sharpie marker trance. The beards belonged to drummer Erik Bodin, Håkan Wirenstrand on keys, and bassist Fredrick Källgren. Lead vocalist, Yukimi Nagano, was in a white branchy subway train printed kimono-esque robe and black leggings. Near the end of the show the gown extended over her head, masking her, and she was completely covered except for her bare feet. She was a hooded porcelain undulating being, or a porcelain stingray. She was the ghost of a porcelain stingray, moving to the consistent danceable repetition, the build up, the pause, and the re-unfolding. Groups of people here and there around the edges of the mass formed delicate and sweaty dance parties, most people packed close, and stared or swayed to the spiritually poppy Tricky trance sounds. The journey of each song was long, and in between her little voice thanked the crowd and expressed how much they loved playing in L.A. They played for almost two hours, and the show was pristine, fluid, fun. After leaving the stage one by one they returned for their encore and finished with what is apparently their biggest hit, well, as far as Youtube video viewing goes, “Twice.” It’s a song of slower intrigue, and I wished they would have played it as their fourth or seventh or ninth song instead of their finale. I think they might be tired of performing it, or maybe the song itself is tired of being performed, but it was a touch flat, although  everyone sang along and left satisfied, energized by Little Dragon’s unique sound and captivating stage presence.

—Shannon Breen