PINES is an Australian Duo that play on stage facing each other. While their sets make them appear like they are dueling DJs, they are actually collaborative producers making their electronic music unfold live before their audience. Their sound has a lot of the dreamy and percussive elements one might find at an ODESZA show. However, PINES has a quality to their music that is uniquely their own.
Often times during their sets, the sound will quiet for a few moments and allow for people in the crowd to have a break in the dancing and catch up with their friends. Their drops are inventive and bass driven, but clean. Lots of live instrument riffs are also weaved into the songs that give the feeling of the human element, a break in the steady electro, and an opportunity to dance without chains.
The venue, the Echo, is situated above a large bridge in the trendy East Side neighborhood of Echo Park in Los Angeles. It has a cool vibe inside, but take note, if you are heading to the Echo, it will likely lead you to the bottom of the bridge. And if you try to enter from that side (which many people do), you will be met with the icy stare of a security agent telling you that you must cross the 5 lane road, take the stairs up the bridge, cross another six lane road, to get to the real entrance. The journey was wrought with garbage and old vomit, cars flying across Glendale and Sunset Boulevards. Some people even went out to the patio for a smoke and were barred but yet another icy bouncer from re-entering.
And once you’re in, and if you stay in, it feels pretty great. The sound engineering was well implemented. The ticket prices, quality of musicianship, and open space really make this place worth it. And the cherry on top is always the artist you are seeing. PINES did a great job debuting their newest album Life As We Know It, among other works. They sold vinyl along with some of their merch at the venue as well. All in all this group feels like they carry a sound with them that could be headlining festivals in a matter of years. So see them now, while its cheap and easy.
The Indy Review 