BROODS excite fans (and famous friends) at sold-out Fonda Theatre performance

Just 13 months ago, New Zealand sibling synthpop duo BROODS were playing their first American show at Bardot’s It’s A School Night. On Thursday night, their career reached another plateau as they sold out the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood to an assortment of excited fans and famous pals that packed the place from the floor to the balconies.

Taking in the show on the evening was a group of of ladies in the balcony that included Taylor Swift, Ellie Goulding, Este Haim, and actress Chloe Grace Moretz. On the way into the venue, I also saw fellow New Zealander Alisa Xayalith of The Naked and Famous. You know you’re doing something right when you’ve got so many peers turning into fan girls.

As far as the performance goes, Georgia and Caleb Nott were at the top of their game, as per usual — though of course the bros to the left of me tried to ruin a good time by not shutting their mouths for the duration.

BROODS has grown into their own over the past year after tours with Sam Smith and their first US headlining tour midway through 2014. Georgia always seems to be a little nervous, but her and her older brother Caleb always manage to play it off and turn it into something humorous. The two recounted their short history to the crowd, reminiscing of how Bardot was the first time they ever saw anyone singing back their lyrics to them. On this night, it was more than just a handful, and it was more than just for the song that put them on the map, “Bridges.”

They kicked things off with “Never Gonna Change,” the one song outside of “Bridges” that made it from their debut EP onto their debut full-length album that was released last October, Evergreen. They played through most of the highlights from that album, from “Four Walls” to “L.A.F.”

Georgia and Caleb had plenty to share in between songs, like how “Pretty Thing” was the first song they ever wrote as BROODS and how it is the happiest song they’ve written, and will probably remain that way. Georgia is adorable in her awkwardness, and you can tell just from their show that they are two genuine people that can’t believe how far they’ve come.

Their encore was especially strong as they kicked it off with the extremely catchy “Superstar,” my favorite track from the album. They closed the show with “Mother & Father,” a song about the difficulties of leaving home.

“I’ve been waiting for the sun to rise where you are, so I can tell you you’re a superstar,” the chorus to “Superstar” goes. The sun is just going to keep burning brighter for these two well-grounded siblings that are quickly rising to the top.

After performing at Bardot themselves this past Monday, Louisiana’s Mikky Ekko had quite a large gathering for their night-opening performance. With a sound that’s a little bit OneRepublic with a dash of 30 Seconds to Mars, there’s a good reason why they’re seemingly on the fast track. The set was high energy and very well received, and the vocal prowess of John Stephen Sudduth (whose stage name is Mikky Ekko) was quite stellar.

Don’t be surprised if Mikky Ekko follows the blueprint BROODS set last year of quickly rising the ranks.

Words: Mark E. Ortega

Photography: Ceethreedom

Broods