LIVE: How To Dress Well and Swimm at Sayers Club, Hollywood

Tuesday, February 25, 2015
Exclusive Hollywood speakeasy, Sayers Club, was blessed once again this week by Red Bull Sound Select as they returned with their monthly concert series.  This round featured Alternative R&B artist Tom Krell, aka How To Dress Well, with Sound Select artists Swimm.  For those not aware that there even is a genre called Alternative R&B, let me explain, trust me, you’re already familiar.  Several years ago the aggressive and blue style of commercial R&B acts like Jeremih and The Dream married the Sade-esque Hip-Hop sound of Drake culmitating in, most notably, the Trilogy albums by The Weeknd and producer Illangelo.  Since then A-listers like Beyonce have tapped the style for songs like “Drunk In Love” and other crossover hits while underground Electronic artists have equally embraced it as a down tempo alternative to Trap, Dubstep and Dance music.
 
Reporting on the underground gets you used to irony, so it wasn’t shocking to see How To Dress Well enter the intimate stage set up in a white tank top, mesh shorts and beat up sneakers.  Gripping the mic, he rocked with slightly off beat nervousness belting out falsetto melodies, a little shaky at first, but later hitting a stride that proved there’s some skill in the otherwise awkward package.  Parting from the popular one-man midi band trend of Chet Faker and many others, he brought along a live drummer, Cellist and 2 multi-instrumentalists which allowed the tracks to feel lush, making up for any performance short comings.  Another saving grace was his unfiltered banter and crowd interaction between tracks.  Come for the music, stay for the comedy.  In all, a satisfied crowd was seemingly embracing of what the crooner had to offer.
 
Swimm opened the show but ultimately stole it from the headliner.  The 5-piece Alt-Rock outfit came and conquered with upbeat melodic songs backed by an impressive stage presence.  On the heels of the release of their first single, “Beverly Hells”, they laid it all down to ensure we would head straight home and download before crashing for the night.  Atmospheric guitars reminiscent of early Radiohead and Coldplay were driven by dance worthy drumming.  All of this was heightened by their secret weapon, the tambourine  player!  The high jumping head banging backing percussionist had people buzzing the remainder of the night.  Ultimately it was the song writing and delivery that shined the most, making Swimm someone to put on everyone’s watch list for 2015.
 
Check out “Beverly Hells” here.
 
- Dominic Painter