The LA-based band Cannons feels like something rare and special in the world of pop music today. The trio of Michelle Joy, guitarist Ryan Clapham, and drummer/keyboardist Paul Davis seem to know how to craft the kind of music that creates a mood. They create incredibly danceable songs that harken back to the days of Studio 54 mixed with an ethereal dream pop that wouldn’t be out of place in a David Lynch film, and I find it difficult to stop listening once I put on one of their records, especially the newly released Everything Glows.
The last time I saw Cannons was back a few years ago as the band were in the midst of their Heartbeat Highway tour, but so much has happened with the band since then. Exhaustion from the road, health concerns, and heart ache followed the extensive tour, but this only seemed to be the catalyst for the new record. Hot on the heels of its release, Cannons kicked off their co-headlining tour with Canadian duo Bob Moses and I, for one, couldn’t wait to hear these new songs played live.
The band rolled into DC’s The Anthem Thursday, April 16th kicking off their set with “Loving You” from Heartbeat Highway. The stage was made up like a scene in a movie with a street light set underneath of a crescent moon as Michelle Joy made her way to the lip of the stage.
One noticeable absence was band member Paul Davis as the band had noted on social media that just a few days prior he had suffered a brain injury that required surgery while on tour.
A testament to the strength of their songwriting, hearing “Starlight” performed made me immediately feel like I was hearing a classic. The bouncing synth and bass lines created a groove while Joy’s voice felt like a cool breeze washing over top. The song, itself, has this personal feel with lyrics like “Lift me up, don’t let me fall / Catch me when I’ve lost it all / In the dark be my light / Guide me through this endless night.” You can’t help but find yourself singing along.
As Joy danced her way across the massive stage during “Hurricane,” she paused with Clapham as the two played off fed off the energy of the song.
Listen to the single, “Starlight” from Cannons:
Cannons played a good section of Everything Glows and a lot of that sound continue that steady rhythm that’s infectious. That whole feeling of being out on the street, with the night sky in the background was illustrated more clearly as a backdrop of starts filled the stage during another new track, “These Nights.”
“One of my favorite off of Everything Glows is this song “Take Me to Tokyo,” Michelle Joy told the crowd. “It’s more than just a song. It represents a place that we have created through making music together and music has always brought a sense of peace and calm.” And it really is clear from the Cannons music that there’s this feeling of calm emanating from those lines.
Finishing up their set, Cannons left us with two of my favorites – a new one, “Light As A Feather,” and the one that, for many, was their introduction to the band, “Fire For You” as Joy asked the crowd to sing along.
Following Cannons was the band Bob Moses whose stage design was just as interesting and creative, making good use of the massive stage. The duo of Tom Howie (vocals / guitar) and Jimmy Vallance (synths / electronics) took their places front stage and immediately went into the lead track, “Time of Your Life” from their most recent album, BLINK.
In addition to their massive single, “Tearing Me Up” from their album Days Gone By, the band also played one of my favorites, the collaboration with DJ Elderbrook, “Inner Light.” They also did an incredible cover as the tail end of the single “Love Brand New” kept the beat and ended up as the start of Nine Inch Nails’ “Closer.”
The combination of Cannons with Bob Moses made for an incredible show with a little bit for everybody.
The setlist for Cannons included:
Loving You
Starlight
Hurricane
Carousel
Bright Lights
Heartbeat Highway
These Nights
Purple Sun
I Get Weak
Up All Night
All I Need
Desire
Take Me To Tokyo
Bad Dream
Light As A Feather
Fire for You
And the setlist for Bob Moses included:
Time of Your Life
Waiting on the World
Inner Light (Elderbrook cover)
Comes Back to You
Tearing Me Up
Round & Round
Last Forever
All I Want
Love Brand New
Closer (Nine Inch Nails cover)
Afterglow
Keep Love Waiting
Desire
Blink
Check out more photos of Cannons mesmerizing at The Anthem on April 15. All photos are copyright David LaMason:
And check out more photos of Bob Moses at The Anthem:
And here are photos of Oxis opening the evening at The Anthem:
Nice work. Stage lighting is difficult to deal with and these are really nice and sharp.