REVIEW: White Reaper 2/21/23

White Reaper - The Fonda Theatre

I’m not the kind of person that turns down a concert, whether it be a genre I’m not particularly into or an artist I don’t know too well. Listening to live music is my favorite pastime, explaining how I found myself at the Fonda Theatre on February 21st seeing White Reaper. 

I have always been a fan of their most popular song “Might Be Right,” but I delved deeper into their discography as the concert date drew closer and closer. In January, they released Asking For A Ride which heightened my excitement for the show. 

I showed up early enough to find decent parking but late enough to skip the line that typically wraps around the Fonda. The second I walked in, my sensations immediately tingled. I was able to catch the last two songs of Taipei Houston, an artist I’m not familiar with, but am now a fan of. Right then and there, I knew I was in for a loud, head-banging night. The energy only picked up from there with Narrow Head, another artist I am now a newfound fan of. I often prioritize noise when listening to new music, especially live, and the noise was indeed delivered. It’s music you can’t help but move to and feel.

The energy within the Fonda Theatre only heightened as White Reaper took the stage. I love a crowd whose demographic is so wildly different because, at the end of the day, we’re all there for our shared love of music for the band(s) playing. I think this show was one of the most respectful rock concerts I’ve ever been to. Their stage presence was awesome, they kept the crowd engaged, and they matched the crowd’s energy, which to me, is one of the most critical parts of live music. The mutual respect and understanding between the artist and the audience was the thing that stuck with me the most after the show. 

There wasn’t a dull moment throughout their entire set. I’m a sucker for good energy, music, and performance. My eyes and ears felt satiated by the night's end, and that’s all you can ever really ask for. 

With Love,
Jackie Greenberg (DJ Emo Cousin)
RIYL: The Orwells, Tijuana Panthers, Cloud Nothings