Medium build AT EL REY THEATER
BY NIKKI WONGFresh off his Weekend 1 performance at Coachella, Medium Build lit up the El Rey Theater on a Thursday night, drawing a full house of devoted fans and curious newcomers. The weeks flanking Coachella are among my favorite living in Los Angeles – when Goldenvoice curates shows in celebration of artists in town for the Indio festival, giving them a chance to connect with more intimate crowds in storied venues across LA.
As someone who’s followed Medium Build – born Nick Carpenter – for the past few years, this marked my fourth time seeing him live. From the cozy Moroccan Lounge a few years ago to the El Rey Theater, it’s clear that Carpenter leaves a piece of himself on every stage he graces. His performances are raw and cathartic, his lyrics deeply personal and direct. His stage presence is a blend of vulnerability and wit without taking himself too seriously. There’s a particular magic to a Medium Build show: one moment you’re tearing up to lyrics about Carpenter’s parents, the next you’re laughing about having a crush on a drug dealer.
Catch Medium Build with Petey USA on their 10-date tour this Spring on the East Coast.
Opening the night was the pop-folk duo The Army, The Navy. The duo paired nicely with Medium Build’s set with heartfelt melodies and harmonization. One standout was “Vienna (In Memoriam)” which was in memoriam of a mouse that shared housing with the two.
