Rock band, Good Kid, delivered a powerful set to a sold-out crowd at the Los Angeles El Rey Theater last Saturday, performing a variety of old favorites, new gems, and inventive covers. They stormed the stage with their 2023 hit “No Time to Explain,” setting the tone for the show to come. The song features fast-paced vocals paired with a matching guitar melody and aggressive percussive fills, a combination present through most of Good Kid’s discography.

After several more of their rock hits, the group caught their breath as guitarist, David Tsafatinos, shared a heartwarming anecdote about a fleeting romance and the writing of their love song, “Madeleine.” Tsafatinos and lead singer Nick Frosst then took the stage as a pair to sing the emotionally charged ballad. This performance stood out as a testament to Good Kid’s engagement with the crowd, both emotionally and literally. The literal side of this, however, was much more...tangible.

Through the course of the show, the band threw curveball after curveball at their eager fans, making them an integral part of the show in increasingly chaotic fashion. I can’t believe I’m writing this, but their set included a Beyblade battle to settle an argument, an impromptu vocalization of the Dune theme, a “wheel of chaos,” and an improvised performance of Smash Mouth’s “All Star,” complete with very clearly improvised lyrics. But throughout this controlled chaos, they invited the audience into their lives with wholesome, authentic stories about the band’s humble high school beginnings, the backgrounds to their songs, and other aspects of their life. So while you may never know what to expect at a Good Kid concert, you can be sure you won’t be disappointed.

Article and Photo Gallery by Pieter Markus