Show Review: Illiterate Light

The passion invoked a sense of belonging, considering the crowd was also carefree and content. I felt comfortable in this space, and it was all due to Illiterate Light. Illiterate Light is a band who began their musical journey in 2015, whose sound is a blend of classic blues, rock and contemporary alternative indie rock. It consists of Jeff Gorman on guitar, vocals, and bass, and Jake Cochran on drums and vocals. They played at the Moroccan Lounge in Downtown Los Angeles on February 18th, a venue known for its half bar, half stage layout. The intimate setting allowed for Illiterate Light to connect with everyone in the audience, with Jake asking to shed light on the crowd’s faces for their acoustic portion of the set. I could hear the direct ties back to classics, with chord progressions reminding me of what my dad played for me as a kid; they have a sound that is comforting, since it is on the basis of timeless music.

Jake wore a cropped flowered tank top which is also on the cover of their most recent self-titled album. He called attention to it between two of their songs, stating his wife questions his choices of wardrobe. Sweat glistened off of his arms and back as he played drums standing up, with a cymbal placed directly upon his set without a stand. This setup allowed for mobility, and he was able to run around the stage while singing, interacting with the audience and playing the rhythm: there was never a dull moment. There was a moment when an audience member was holding a phone in front of Jake’s face, and he grabbed the phone first singing into a selfie and then ultimately taking the phone and placing it by his drums. He gave the phone back after the song was over, but his actions proved he was commenting on the idea of recording and obsessions with technology today’s society has. It was as if he was saying, “take a break!”. 

Jake also told a story of their endurance in becoming a successful music group, stating they “toured on a bicycle,” alluding to the struggles they had on their journey to success. With 10k followers on Instagram and fans that are sure to be there for their entirety, their hard work has paid off. They were recently signed to Atlantic records, which was the break they needed and deserved. 

Jake and Jeff’s relationship was vital to their performance, presenting their fierce connection through body language and passionate presentation of musicality. A few times they sang forehead to forehead, allowing the audience to be drawn in on these intimate moments. The band ended on their most popular tune, “Better Then I Used To,” starting off with the same fervor they had been playing with in previous songs, but then skipping into a full out all hands on deck ending of the show that is sure to be remembered. Illiterate Light’s ties to classics and their intense passion for their art makes them a band must-see.