I got into Spaceland just in time to catch the beginning of Greg Ashley’s set. I’m very familiar with two of Greg’s late-’60s folky sounding solo albums as well as his skills as a rising recording engineer with a very distinct warm sound. However, this was to be my first time seeing him play live. He’s fuckin’ excellent. You ever play a pool shark that’s 70 years old? He hits the ball so softly, patiently and accurately as you watch in awe with a head full of wonderlust without even getting a turn? Greg Ashely’s not some old dood, but that’s what his set reminded me of. He plucks his nylon strings so softly and smoothly and gently delivers his potent lyrics. I think he’s probably an old soul. In the middle of his set, he grabbed an electric guitar and played through an amp with the reverb all the way up and stopped singing. Anyway, it was a really good fuckin’ set and he’s gotta play L.A. more often.

The Dutchess and the Duke had a pretty big crowd quickly make its way to the stage for a good, close look. The band has been touring as a four piece lately—percussion, bass and the two guitarist/vocalists. The Duke took the main vocal  duties while  The Dutchess joined him in and out of most of the songs. The songs are simple country/folk type songs, but the vocal melodies and lyrics draw you in and hold your attention. The Duke looked like a rooster up there—he’s sung many a song in his day and delivers his tune with confidence. At first listen the songs sound like the regular epidemic going around these days, but these guys are much better at telling the story. It comes naturally for some.

—David Garcia