Phoenicians looking for a brief respite from the oncoming summer heat took refuge at The Van Buren last week for a dose of a different kind of sunshine. Dope Lemon’s Golden Wolf Tour took a trippy turn right into Arizona and drew an audience of devoted fans for a laidback evening.
The Palms opened the show like a balmy California breeze sweeping through the room. Their sound mixes elements of rock, pop and even reggae to get the crowd swaying…well, like the palms themselves. As more fans trickled into the venue, they were drawn in by the mellow energy emanating from the stage and the band had won plenty of hearts by the end of their set.
When it was time for Dope Lemon- the stage moniker of Aussie singer Angus Stone- he shrouded the stage in fog and blinded the room with pulsing multicolored lights for a hypnotic effect before a single note had been played. Stone emerged from the haze in dark shades to match his dark suit, launching into “Stonecutters” and the apropos “John Belushi”.
The Van Buren had filled in with curious onlookers and very enthusiastic fans in search of a good time and Stone was ready to entertain. Such intense production can often overwhelm a performance but in the case of Dope Lemon, it’s all part of the ambiance, baby. It was a thoroughly satisfying night out of the desert heat and with the way Dope Lemon already loves Arizona, we know he’ll be back to share more good times in the Valley of the Sun.
