Drugdealer | Show Review

On April 12th, I had the pleasure of seeing Drugdealer at The Teregram Ballroom in Los Angeles. I’m no stranger to Drugdealer’s laid back stage presence. Though I thought I knew what to expect coming in, I was pleasantly surprised by the maturity that sprung up from the band since the last time I’ve seen them perform in the Summer. In the times previous, I recall Michael Collins acting as the puppeteer of the band- after all, Michael is the ringleader of all these talented collaborators. Although, what I witnessed on Friday was a little different. The meshing of the musicians on stage looked and sounded a lot more cohesive and that made me feel more at ease. We were all smiling back at Drugdealer, as Mr. Collins went on about psychedelics and how it’s possible to be anything you want to be, even an “artist who lives in the desert and paints.” That bold statement was referring to the guest artist he invited to partake in a night of painting. For the duration of Drugdealer’s set, this painter projected his process of character revealing onto the stage’s background. It definitely got me feeling like I was at some warehouse DIY show. Getting back to the roots is always fun. No, Weyes Blood did not make a surprise appearance, but Drugdelaer’s other main collaborators, vocalist Sasha Winn & bass player Shaggs Chamberlin, were just as lively as they always are. Maybe it’s the amount of practice they had touring with the first album or the wisdom they gained producing a second album, either way the band I witness on Friday night at The Teregram Ballroom in Los Angeles looked well on their way for another tour of success. Drugdealer’s Raw Honey will be released on April 19, 2019 via Mexican Summer."

Review/Photo By: Sara Salari