Los Angeles got a strong dose of British psychedelia this last Monday, when beloved UK band Kula Shaker returned to the city as part of a tour with The Dandy Warhols.
While the band came to prominence in the 90’s, helped by a hit cover of Joe South‘s “Hush”, I have to admit I only became aware of the band last year with their album Natural Magick (which was one of my Top Albums of 2024). The group’s melding of Britpop, psychedelic rock and Indian music styles still remains very unique and fresh today.
The 70’s psychedelia vibes were on full display with the band’s gloriously colorful backing video transporting audience members back fifty years to velvet-covered lounges in underground London clubs. The band came out in good spirits, but I became a little worried during the band’s opening of “Tattva”, as frontman Crispian Mills vocals were sounding a little rough and having trouble connecting. As the band finished, bassist Alonzo Bevan revealed that Mills had visited a doctor earlier that day due to some health issues, and was told to either cancel the show or soldier through, which the band decided to do.
As I prepared for the rest of the set to sound sub-par, those worries were soon shaken off as the group launched into a cover of Hawkwind‘s “Hurry on Sundown”, and sounded absolutely great. Whatever rust was on Mills vocals was shook off, as the band pulled off some perfect harmonies on the jammy “Grateful When You’re Dead/Jerry Was There”, with keyboardist Harry Broadbent creating a kaleidoscope of sound over the band. Mill spoke briefly about their joy being in the U.S., even if it didn’t seem as “united” as it used to. The band then had some fun with 2024’s cheeky “Idon’twannapaymytaxes”, a feeling he knew could certainly unite most people.
“Into the Deep” was a gentle musical breeze, leading up to the funkier recent single “Good Money” (watch a clip above), during which Mills made it rain with some jokey printed-out dollars on the crowd. The band then played “Day for Night” before launching into their hit cover of “Hush”, which had the audience calling and responding. Getting an even better response was the raga-infused closer “Govinda,” which enthralled the audience.
With Oasis recently conquering stadiums in the U.S., it’s time for American audiences to be reintroduced to some of that band’s 90’s British rock piers that deserved a better shake here. With a new album, Wormslayer, coming out January 30th, there’s no better time for America to jump on the Kula Shaker bandwagon.
Get familiar with the band by checking out their music here, and see if they are playing near you here.
The Indy Review 