Coming in with a wave of stimulating electronic grooves, Morgan Kibby’s impressive solo effort known as White Sea, enraptured concert-goers with a free show in Los Angeles on Monday March 17.
Cleverly hidden within the 2000 block of Beverly Blvd stands the quaint and incognito Bootleg Theater, where Kibby opened for artists Deradoorian and Moses Sumney.
Deradoorian, a Northern California-based multi-instrumentalist, took the stage shortly after White Sea. Following Deradoorian was headliner Moses Sumney, an LA-based singer and songwriter, dubbed as the “soul-folk warrior,” by SPIN magazine.
While Kibby praised her fellow performers from the evening, it was her set that initially set a high bar for the artists to follow.
Many who were in attendance, flocked out to witness Kibby’s solo efforts in White Sea on the after-glow of her critical acclaim for her contributions to French electronic band M83. Other fans who were present have been following Kibby’s work since her first musical works in The Romanovs.
“The Romanovs I look at like my teenage goth cabaret years,” Kibby said in a recent interview with the Sundial. “I was gunning to be in the same realm with the theatre cabaret lines. I grew up in the theatre so making that music was natural. White Sea has nothing to do with that. There are classic elements from my previous works, but White Sea shares more commonalities with M83 than any other work I’ve done.”
Though Kibby’s new endeavor is based off her solo efforts, she was accompanied by a bassist and a drummer for the live performance.
“I’ve done everything by myself up until recently,” Kibby said. “I kind of decided the record was too big and I was gonna try and play it by myself, but I just started working a couple weeks ago with drummer and a second musician.”
By 9 p.m., Kibby graced the dimly-lit stage with her ethereal presence, and illuminated the room with her powerful vocals.
Though many of the songs from White Sea’s set were enchanting, it was her power ballad-like single,‘They Don’t Know’ that appeared to entice the audience most.
As each song came to a close, Kibby graciously thanked the not-so-surprisingly packed Bootleg, as fans cheered and shouted her name. Throughout the set, fans were energized, invigorated and eager to hear more from the songstress’ intensifying vocals and harmonious keys.
White Sea is set to perform several upcoming US shows with the Naked and Famous.