Silversun Pickups Finally Play Homecoming L.A. Show

Los Angeles is a deservedly proud musical town, having brought the world the likes of the Doors, the Beach Boys, Guns N' Roses, Jane's Addiction, Red Hot Chili Peppers, X, NWA and so many more. On Tuesday night, the new crop of L.A. music took the stage at Gibson Amphitheater for 'L.A. 101,' a celebration of the town's current scene. Fittingly, Silver Lake's Silversun Pickups, the biggest band to emerge from L.A. in recent years, were the night's headliner's after sets from Dengue Fever, Matt and Kim and the Dandy Warhols.

For SSPU, the night was special on several accounts, even if playing on the same stage where two years ago they were third-billed behind Snow Patrol was by frontman Brian Aubert's account a little "F---ed up." Besides being "proud Angelenos" and having the chance to show that off, this marked the first proper SSPU hometown show since the band's 'Swoon' debuted in the Top 10 months ago (they've done festivals and benefits in town, but not their own gig). After a smoking 'Royal We' brought a distortion-laden frenzy of opening songs that had gone one into the other to a halt, they finally stopped for a minute

Rather than your typical deafening concert ovation, this one actually built and lasted as long as a Cali earthquake, the crowd welcoming the prodigal band home after months on the road. The feeling was oh so mutual. "So, it may sound cheeseball," Aubert said, "But we have waited so long to say these words, 'Hello, Los Angeles.'" Inspired by the moment, Aubert asked the venue to turn the house lights up so he could see "all these beautiful faces." The move was clearly not rehearsed and after a brief delay long enough to get the crowd chanting "lights," he quipped, "Oh, wait he can't, he's down the road doing 'Waterworld,'" referring to the live action stun show at Universal Studios.

For those that had grown with SSPU in the L.A. clubs, seeing them on the massive Gibson stage was almost surreal, even if the band delivered songs like the live staple 'Kissing Families' from the 'Pikul' EP with the same fury and passion that they brought at the Echo in the past. Aubert acknowledged that as well, dedicating 'Lazy Eye' to "Everyone that hung out with us at the Wiltern, Troubadour, Silver Lake Lounge, Echo, Echoplex -- basically where we spent our whole lives." Those days are obviously done, save for special occasions, as the band has grown into their Top 10 status as a headlining act on bigger stages. They showed last night they belong there, making their hometown extremely proud.