The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever has been on my list of must-see venues for just about the entire time I’ve lived in Los Angeles. For reasons unbeknownst to me, external factors—like the intimate venue’s limited capacity—have often clashed with my luck in snagging tickets before the ever-sobering “sold out” notification surfaces. But I suppose the stars aligned for Natalie Bergman’s show at the Masonic Lodge, and thank goodness for that. Because though I may not have known it at 9:30 p.m.—minutes before Bergman’s opening act RIO KOSTA took to the stage—I was in for an evening of inimitable, nourishing sound.
About three counts into their opening track, it was evident that RIO KOSTA would encapsulate the ideal opener—the kind that leaves a first-time listener like myself delightfully grateful for having their first introduction take place in a live setting.
Throughout the set, each band member looked as though they had ventured into their own respective journeys with their instruments, yet remained cohesively in lockstep with one another. Their hearty bass lines, which I felt most informed the groove, reverberated against the wooden ceilings of the stained-glass-adorned concert hall.
Though their set was criminally brief, their mesmerizing vocals, funk-filled arrangements, and captivating draw left the crowd utterly enamored. The transcendental track, “Mountain Top” comes to mind, during which members of the crowd displayed looks of pure awe resembling my own. RIO KOSTA’s hypnotic, genre-bending sound places the collective in a league of their own, and left me, as I had predicted earlier, floored and eager to dive into their discography.
During intermission, I glanced around the room and took in the surroundings of the now-filled venue floor. Witnessing no shortage of flares, blouses, and leathers among the attendees—unsurprising, given the headlining act’s ’60s-esque visual and sonic identity—I made sure to take mental notes for closet inspiration.
Donned head-to-toe in vintage, down to her suede, leather-frayed guitar strap, the spellbinding Natalie Bergman and her equally dapper bandmates made their way to the stage, igniting a resounding cheer from her antsy audience.
The singer-songwriter opened with “Lonely Road,” the opening track off her freshly released sophomore album My Home Is Not In This World. Having spent the past two weeks since the single’s initial release humming its tune, I was beyond elated to hear it performed live.
“I’ve been doing this since I was 15 years old, and I still get so nervous,” said Bergman as she found her feet at the start of her set. Despite this going unnoticed by the audience, I assume it must’ve subsided as the set progressed, with the singer visibly growing more at home on stage with every song. During title track “My Home Is Not In This World,” Bergman tastefully navigated the projection of a soft, almost whisper-like voice with depth and weight.
Bergman was accompanied by a multi-instrument band, including her brother and frequent collaborator Elliot Bergman (the two perform together under Wild Belle), accented with conga drums, groovy strings, and enchanting backing vocals. Taking energetic cues from one another, the group offered a set that felt less performative and more meditative.
One would be remiss not to mention the staggeringly beautiful blend of vocals that filled the room. Bergman was joined onstage by Elisa Latrice, whose delicate, radiant vocals made for the perfect accompaniment. At most points, the two sang in the same key—a road less traveled by musicians, for it bears a larger margin of error—but not for them, as the pair matched in perfect harmony.
About midway through “Dance,” the album’s most pop-tinged track, both Bergman and Latrice organically slipped into an effortless jive, backed by a soulful instrumental break. This energy echoed among the crowd, who took after the artists and leaned into the groove. The songstress continued to nurture this carefree air, following with tracks “Looking For You” and “I Will Praise You,” with the latter off Bergman’s 2021 debut, Mercy. During these delightful songs, movement swept the audience, rendering the concept of stillness foreign.
It could’ve been the warm, feel-good nature of Bergman’s sound or the charming atmosphere coating the walls of the historic venue, but throughout the entirety of the show, I felt an overwhelming sense of safety and comfort. As it came to a close and fellow tote-bag slingers filtered through the exit, a buzzing chatter of shared delight filled the foyer. Replete with an air of psychedelic folk, gospel, sunshine pop, and soul, Natalie Bergman delivered an evening of unmistakable radiance.
Words: Tamara Jiji
Photography: Phoenix Staub
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More Photos of Natalie Bergman with RIO KOSTA at the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever
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