REVIEW: A.G. Cook Solidifies “Visionary of Our Generation” Title at The Masonic Lodge in LA
REVIEW
REVIEW
☆ BY FAITH LUEVANOS ☆
YOU MAY KNOW A.G. COOK AS THE CO-MASTERMIND BEHIND – the album of the year, BRAT, but long-time fans know the multi-faceted artist and producer for his ability to build worlds through music by elevating the pop music genre. Now known worldwide as a key component of music that wins Grammy’s, Cook’s idiosyncratic music has skyrocketed in popularity and is truly a unique and special experience to see performed live.
Three sold-out nights at The Masonic Lodge in Los Angeles provided an intimate setting for fellow fans to witness the mind of Cook live. After the successful release of his latest album, Britpop, I was very grateful to be invited to see his music performed and reworked live.
As soon as the lights dimmed, loud cheers ensued, followed by a quick hush so nobody missed a single moment of the set. Cook started with a dark, ambient beat, perfectly aligned with the location of the venue at the hauntingly beautiful Hollywood Forever Cemetary. The crowd began to find their rhythm and dance, and just when they thought they knew what was coming, the vibe switched completely. Something I admire about Cook’s performances is the dramatic shifts between tracks, provided with incredible transitions that leave fans wondering, “wait, how did we get here?”
As the set began to make its way into the hit song, “Britpop,” fans began to cheer and dance as they heard the familiar vocals of Charli XCX play throughout the room. I was in awe of how easy it was for Cook to command the room, every fan falling into his trance-like beats, all in dire need of a good time that he so effortlessly provided.
As he continued to play some of his work with Charli throughout the evening, it was incredible to experience their work together exactly as they intended: in a tightly-packed room with like-minded individuals who just want to feel the music and let it take them somewhere new.
The flow of the set blew me away with how carefully crafted everything sounded when, in reality, it was all improvised. I was fortunate enough to be close to the front, where I could see Cook clearly as his hands moved faster than the beat to bring the world inside his head through the speakers for everyone to hear. There was such special energy in the room that night with Cook’s complex blend of music combined with the booming energy of the crowd. Having seen many DJ sets over the years, the seemingly effortless energy it took to get fans hooked on the next track solidified the fact that it was one of the best sets I had ever seen.
