Hum and Mineral wax nostalgia at sold-out Regent show

Hum

Hum was the band of my teenage years. From the first time I heard “Stars,” the single that got them national attention, they were — quite literally — the only band that mattered. As soon as I could drive, I would lose myself in the hills between Los Angeles and South Pasadena, listening to You’d Prefer An Astronaut. The mix of soft sounds and pounding rhythms echoed my own discontent and wistful hopes that things would somehow get better.

They eventually did, but Hum was not the soundtrack of that journey. After releasing the absolutely amazing Downward is Heavenward in 1998, the band called it quits in 2000. I had lost track of them as life got in the way of music and assumed, despite occasional reunions, Hum would be a band that lived only in the mp3 memories of my iPod.

But they’ve returned for a brief tour, with their Los Angeles stop at the Regent Theater last Thursday night. The guitars and vocals of Matt Talbot never betrayed the passing of the last 15 years. Playing favorites from their two later albums, and one or two earlier tracks, the band sounded as powerful and important as it did in my teen years. Opening with Astronaut’s “Little Dipper” and ending their main set with a truly magnificent rendition of “I Hate It Too,” Heavenward‘s “Green To Me” and “Comin’ Home” as highlights.

During an all-too-brief encore, Talbot thanked the sold-out out show for being
amazing.

Also on the evening’s bill were melodic emo band, Mineral. Check out our photos below of both Hum and Mineral at The Regent!

Words: Ed Arias

Photography: Charlie Wright

Hum