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NEAR TRUTHS: KINGDOMS
File under: The enemy of my enemy is my friend. (3/26a)
ONE SHINING HITS LIST
She shoots, she scores! (3/26a)
YTD MARKET SHARE
Zeroing in on the elite teams (3/27a)
BEST IN THE WEST:
STEVE BERMAN
High time for another Eminem skit (3/26a)
MUSIC REVENUE TOPPED $17B IN 2023: RIAA
Streaming subscriptions lead the charge. (3/27a)
THE NEW UMG
Gosh, we hope there are more press releases.
TIKTOK BANNED!
Unless the Senate manages to make this whole thing go away, that is.
THE NEW HUGE COUNTRY ACT
No, not that one.
TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PLAYLIST
Now 100% unlicensed!
THE B-SIDE
ICYMI: REX ORANGE COUNTY
2/10/18

BY KENZ MEADOWS

Blossoming Brit-pop act, Rex Orange County, performed at the El Rey theater last night (2/8) in L.A. This was the second of two completely sold-out performances, and the young act (only 19) really delivered.

He floated back and forth from performing solo—either on keyboard or guitar—and including accompaniment with drums, sax, trumpet and trombone. And there was plenty of audience involvement. Rex (his given name is Alex O'Connor) was funny and really engaged with his crowd, at one point requesting that everyone sacrifice the potential for Instagram stories by putting their phones down so they could just "hang out for twenty minutes."

I've seen acts request this at shows hundreds of times. The difference here was that everyone acquiesced. The whole house, packed with teenagers and twentysomethings, actually went ahead and danced to his jazzy pop tunes instead.

The next time a lit screen appeared was when everyone collectively needed to capture the finale. Complete with tons of swirling confetti and multi-colored balloons, which floated down like we were in a teen movie, his ending note struck a really lovely chord.

Rex, who recently made BBC's Sound of 2018 shortlist, has worked with the likes of Skepta, Mac Demarco, Tyler, the Creator and Frank Ocean. So far, all of his music has been released independently, though he's rep'd by September Management. He's now headed back the the U.K. for a slew of sold-out shows. That said, European dates are still available; dates and details here. You can check out my favorite of his songs, which he performed second to last, below.