Goldroom ’embraces’ their live show, and the sold-out El Rey Theatre embraces them right back

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Saturday night was a proud moment for L.A. producer Josh Legg. Fans of Goldroom piled into El Rey Theatre to embrace those feel-good summer vibes, and they weren’t disappointed as Legg and his live band threw themselves into the music. Touting Chela as the vocalist and on synths for the night (fans know her as the singer on 2013 summer hit “Fifteen”), Nick Sandler (Chasing Kings) on drums and Mike Goldman (Meg Myers, Chasing Kings, Nona) on guitar, bass and keys, Goldroom lit the chandelier-draped and sold-out room with a burst of energy, literally turning it in to a golden room.

||| Photos by Zane Roessell

Chela, who fabulously pulled off a ’90s Janet Jackson look circa “Rhythm Nation,” used the stage as her playground during songs like “Sweetness Alive,” while the boys kept churning out sparkling rhythms. However, she wasn’t the only one taking the lead on vocals. Not only did Legg lend his voice on songs such as “City Girls,” but former member Mereki Beach (Peacocks) also came out to pump up the crowd on a couple of songs, including “Only You Can Show Me.”

Considering the fact that Goldroom has yet to release a full-length album, the show demonstrated the power of remixes and the generation of Hype Machine enthusiasts. A couple of remixes of songs such as MØ’s “Don’t Wanna Dance” and Charli XCX’s “You (Ha Ha Ha)” helped round out the set.  Bringing their shimmering music to life, Goldroom – a live band – made it a no-brainer, bringing an organic feel to music that is often performed by button-pushers via playback.

When the band finally performed “Fifteen,” it washed over the room, reminding everyone summer had just started, but it was the title track of Goldroom’s latest EP, “Embrace” that got everyone in a tizzy. Once the band played those opening synth lines, the room went wild for what they had been waiting for all night. To bring the show full-circle, Legg kicked off the encore with “Angeles,” the title track to the first Goldroom EP and an appropriate anthem for the night.

There was a reason to dance from beginning to end on Saturday night. L.A. electronic musician Kauf opened the night with his hypnotizing and intricate songs, and fellow local artist Gavin Turek slayed the audience shortly after with her bombastic choreography and disco-pop tunes. It was a great night for Los Angeles music.