Tennis Scores at the Hollywood Palladium

Tennis performing at the Hollywood Palladium, LA by Shelby Pfau

SOLD OUT SHOW IN SUPPORT OF LATEST LP ‘POLLEN’

This will eventually be a piece about the band Tennis’ exquisite performance at the Hollywood Palladium; but first I must share a bit of necessary background on myself, the author, to adequately communicate the credentials I have to be someone qualified enough for the massive compliment I’m about to grant the band. 

However proud I am to be a resident of Los Angeles, I’ll always be a Colorado native… some things you just can’t change. I was Denver-born and Fort Collins-raised with a brief stint in Boulder before returning to Denver and attending the same college campus that the band did. I’ve watched Denver bloom (or should I say wither?) since the population began to boom after cannabis legalization in 2013. My teen years were defined twofold by Denver’s gritty hardcore punk and glimmering indie rock scenes alike, and into my twenties I watched it all solemnly fade into what became the reluctant sigh of acceptance towards an unfortunately bustling electronic music scene that has damn-near eradicated everything nourishing about music in what should be a major, defining market. My point is, no music editorialist in LA is nearly as qualified to make grandiose statements about Denver’s music scene the way I am. Okay, now that we’re on the same page… 

Tennis performing at the Hollywood Palladium, LA by Shelby Pfau

The band Tennis is (in my humble opinion) the greatest band to emerge from Denver, and they are the city’s only true hope at repairing the once flourishing multi-genre scene. There! I said it; and I really do believe it. This sentiment of mine has only been cemented further by their performance at the Hollywood Palladium, which was Tennis’ biggest headline show to date, according to singer and pianist Alaina Moore. Fresh off the heels of their latest album release, Pollen, the band opened with the first single from the record, “One Night With The Valet,” before cascading into some catalog tracks like “Runner” and “Ladies Don’t Play Guitar.” The setlist was primarily split between the band’s 3 most recent records, but also made room for deeper cuts like “My Better Self” from 2013’s Young & Old.

Throughout the show, Moore had a supreme grace about herself and kept a delicate balance of performing while also being sure to interact with the crowd, her singing and speaking voice alike felt as soft as cotton candy dissolving into thin air. The most striking anecdote she shared was a moment she experienced in college when she invited someone to her apartment and played guitar for them only to be met with discouragement as they told her to put the guitar down and stop playing. She said she didn’t play guitar for anyone again until she met her bandmate and husband, guitarist Patrick Riley. 

Tennis performing at the Hollywood Palladium, LA by Shelby Pfau

The duo has never hidden their affinity for retro aesthetics, and had a striking backdrop that complimented their performance so beautifully. Where many artists eventually opt for more theatrical production, Tennis stunned with a mesmerizing projection of various patterns and gradients melting into each other; a perfect companion for chords that feel like sea foam and a voice like a songbird. At times, the projections almost felt like a heart beating with the drums and pulsing bounce of the guitar tone. An kaleidoscopic atmosphere warmed by gratitude radiating from the band, Tennis’ performance is one that feels like a strong embrace, and is not to be missed.  Check out the set list here!

PS: Check out our gallery of photos from the performance!

PS: Check out our gallery of photos from the performance!