1. IN MY MIND – Draft Evader (1)
2. MY BLOOD – twenty one pilots (2)
3. GUIDING LIGHT – Mumford & Sons (3)
4. UH HUH – Jade Bird (5)
5. HAPPIER – Marshmello featuring Bastille (6)
6. HURT PEOPLE – Two Feet featuring Madison Love (7)
7. HIGH HOPES – Panic! At the Disco (8)
8. LOADING ZONES – Kurt Vile (4)
9. SUPERWOMAN SWAY – Brett Vogel (12)
10. UNREALITIES – Dying Habit (13)
11. YOU’RE SOMEBODY ELSE – flora cash (14)
12. THESE ARE MY FRIENDS – lovelytheband (15)
13. SHE’S KEROSENE – The Interrupters (11)
14. NINA CRIED POWER – Hozier featuring Mavis Staples (9)
15. BODY TALKS – The Struts (10)
16. MAKE IT UP AS I GO – Mike Shinoda featuring K.Flay (18)
17. WANDER – Vox Eagle featuring Pierre Fontaine (19)
18. IN THE WATER – The Underground Vault (20)
19. “99” – Barns Courtney (21)
20. BACK DOWN – Bob Moses (23)
21. THANK U, NEXT – Ariana Grande (25)
22. SHAME – Elle King (16)
23. DELTA BLUES – Jetstream (26)
24. ALL MY FRIENDS – The Revivalists (17)
25. NEW BIRTH IN NEW ENGLAND – Phosphorescent (28)
26. FAST TALK – Houses (29)
27. APOCALIPSTICK – Lazy Queen (30)
28. YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN – Billie Eilish (27)
29. VISIONS – Dirty Heads featuring Kitten (22)
30. GHOST – Badflower (24) 19th week on list
This week I’m pleased to place the wonderfully moving song “In My Mind” by a young Chicago singer-songwriter who goes by the artistic name Draft Evader, at #1. I’ve followed him for a while and have watched him grow and mature as an artist. He’s a terrific songwriter and guitarist, and is also becoming a pretty good vocalist too. Panic! At the Disco’s celebratory “High Hopes” leaps 9 spots to #8. Though I’ve long been a fan of theirs, I did not initially like this song. But after reading fellow blogger MusiCommentator’s review, I listened with fresh ears and an open mind, and damn if it didn’t hook me in!
1. IN MY MIND – Draft Evader (3)
2. MY BLOOD – twenty one pilots (2)
3. GUIDING LIGHT – Mumford & Sons (4)
4. LOADING ZONES – Kurt Vile (1)
5. UH HUH – Jade Bird (6)
6. HAPPIER – Marshmello featuring Bastille (7)
7. HURT PEOPLE – Two Feet featuring Madison Love (8)
8. HIGH HOPES – Panic! At the Disco (17)
9. NINA CRIED POWER – Hozier featuring Mavis Staples (5)
10. BODY TALKS – The Struts (9)
11. SHE’S KEROSENE – The Interrupters (10)
12. SUPERWOMAN SWAY – Brett Vogel (13)
13. UNREALITIES – Dying Habit (14)
14. YOU’RE SOMEBODY ELSE – flora cash (15)
15. THESE ARE MY FRIENDS – lovelytheband (16)
16. SHAME – Elle King (12)
17. ALL MY FRIENDS – The Revivalists (11)
18. MAKE IT UP AS I GO – Mike Shinoda featuring K.Flay (20)
19. WANDER – Vox Eagle featuring Pierre Fontaine (22)
20. IN THE WATER – The Underground Vault (23)
21. “99” – Barns Courtney (21)
22. VISIONS – Dirty Heads featuring Kitten (19)
23. BACK DOWN – Bob Moses (26)
24. GHOST – Badflower (18) 18th week on list
25. THANK U, NEXT – Ariana Grande (28)
26. DELTA BLUES – Jetstream (30)
27. YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN – Billie Eilish (29)
28. NEW BIRTH IN NEW ENGLAND – Phosphorescent (N)
29. FAST TALK – Houses (N)
30. APOCALIPSTICK – Lazy Queen (N)
1. LOADING ZONES – Kurt Vile (1)3rd week #1
2. MY BLOOD – twenty one pilots (3)
3. IN MY MIND – Draft Evader (5)
4. GUIDING LIGHT – Mumford & Sons (10)
5. NINA CRIED POWER – Hozier featuring Mavis Staples (2)
6. UH HUH – Jade Bird (8)
7. HAPPIER – Marshmello featuring Bastille (9)
8. HURT PEOPLE – Two Feet featuring Madison Love (13)
9. BODY TALKS – The Struts (6)
10. SHE’S KEROSENE – The Interrupters (7)
11. ALL MY FRIENDS – The Revivalists (4)
12. SHAME – Elle King (12)
13. SUPERWOMAN SWAY – Brett Vogel (14)
14. UNREALITIES – Dying Habit (15)
15. YOU’RE SOMEBODY ELSE – flora cash (16)
16. THESE ARE MY FRIENDS – lovelytheband (17)
17. HIGH HOPES – Panic! At the Disco (N)
18. GHOST – Badflower (11)
19. VISIONS – Dirty Heads featuring Kitten (20)
20. MAKE IT UP AS I GO – Mike Shinoda featuring K.Flay (21)
21. “99” – Barns Courtney (23)
22. WANDER – Vox Eagle featuring Pierre Fontaine (24)
23. IN THE WATER – The Underground Vault (25)
24. TIDAL WAVE – Portugal.The Man (18)
25. DIZZY – The Million Reasons (19) 19th week on chart
26. BACK DOWN – Bob Moses (30)
27. FOREVER – Billy Raffoul (22)
28. THANK U, NEXT – Ariana Grande (N)
29. YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN – Billie Eilish (27)
30. DELTA BLUES – Jetstream (N)
1. LOADING ZONES – Kurt Vile (1)
2. NINA CRIED POWER – Hozier featuring Mavis Staples (2)
3. MY BLOOD – twenty one pilots (5)
4. ALL MY FRIENDS – The Revivalists (4)
5. IN MY MIND – Draft Evader (8)
6. BODY TALKS – The Struts (6)
7. SHE’S KEROSENE – The Interrupters (7)
8. UH HUH – Jade Bird (9)
9. HAPPIER – Marshmello featuring Bastille (10)
10. GUIDING LIGHT – Mumford & Sons (11)
11. GHOST – Badflower (3)
12. SHAME – Elle King (14)
13. HURT PEOPLE – Two Feet featuring Madison Love (15)
14. SUPERWOMAN SWAY – Brett Vogel (16)
15. UNREALITIES – Dying Habit (17)
16. YOU’RE SOMEBODY ELSE – flora cash (18)
17. THESE ARE MY FRIENDS – lovelytheband (19)
18. TIDAL WAVE – Portugal.The Man (13)
19. DIZZY – The Million Reasons (12) 18th week on chart
20. VISIONS – Dirty Heads featuring Kitten (21)
21. MAKE IT UP AS I GO – Mike Shinoda featuring K.Flay (23)
22. FOREVER – Billy Raffoul (26)
23. “99” – Barns Courtney (27)
24. WANDER – Vox Eagle featuring Pierre Fontaine (28)
25. IN THE WATER – The Underground Vault (29)
26. BURN THE HOUSE DOWN – AJR (20)
27. YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN – Billie Eilish (30)
28. PANIC – Agency Panic (22)
29. CLOSER – IAMWARFACE (25) 19th week on chart
30. BACK DOWN – Bob Moses (N)
Though he’s been putting out music since 2016, I didn’t learn about the tremendously talented singer-songwriter Two Feet until this past Spring, when I first heard his dark and sultry “I Feel Like I’m Drowning.” Immediately blown away by his soulful, bluesy sound, I quickly made up for lost time by devouring all of his earlier music and becoming a huge fan. When I learned this summer that he was playing a show in Los Angeles at the legendary Fonda Theatre in November, I wasted no time ordering my tickets.
Based in New York City and born Zachary William “Bill” Dess, Two Feet has had quite an eventful year marked by major highs and lows. He toured extensively throughout the U.S. earlier in the year, also playing venues in Germany, The Netherlands, France and England in May. “I Feel Like I’m Drowning” topped the Billboard Alternative Chart (it also spent three weeks at #1 on my Weekly Top 30 Chart), and he appeared on the Late Show With Stephen Colbert in June. Yet he also struggled with periods of severe depression, which he’s openly discussed with his followers on social media. Thankfully, he’s now on the mend and feeling stronger and more positive, and I and his fans couldn’t be happier. He released his album A 20 Something Fuck on October 5, and played shows in Washington, D.C. and Brooklyn that same month, and then this concert I attended in L.A. on November 16th. (He’s also scheduled to begin touring with Panic! At the Disco on the East Coast in January, which includes a return to L.A. in mid-February.)
DJ/producer tim909 opened the show at 9:00 pm, a pretty late start time for an old codger like me. He’s opened a number of shows for Two Feet, and quickly got the crowd energized with his non-stop mix of exciting and hard-driving EDM & Nu-tech music. Some of the tracks he played included “Jamie Foxx,” “Machinarium” and “Kiba.” (You can check out his music on Soundcloud.) I’d really like to hear his music played at a club where I could let loose on the dance floor. I enjoyed his set a lot, but was eager for Two Feet to perform.
After a short intermission, Two Feet appeared on stage at around 10:00 pm to deafening cheers from the sold out crowd. Accompanied by his bandmate Huff, who does the live setup and handles the Ableton, drums, keys and other instrumentals, Two Feet opened with his instrumental “Felt Like Playing Guitar and Not Singing,” a track off A 20 Something Fuck. The moment his bluesy guitar notes filled the theatre and washed over our ears, we were in thrall. He often seemed to get lost in the music, his eyes closed as he sang in his gentle, sultry tones while coaxing sounds from his guitar that dazed our senses and gave us chills. On some songs, he’d let out an occasional exuberant “wooh” in a higher pitch than his usual singing voice. And one of the signature elements of his sound is the deep, heavy bass that adds tremendous impact and heft to his songs, and it was set to maximum for this show. The bass was so heavy at times that it reverberated off the walls and into our cores.
He moved about the stage as he played, which gave the show greater intimacy by bringing him closer to more people in the audience. He spoke a little between songs, but overall, he exuded a shyness and humility that was endearing. And even more endearing was the fact he wore a Back Street Boys T-shirt. He seemed genuinely touched by the size and enthusiasm of the crowd, and I’m pretty confident in saying he had our undivided love and respect. I don’t have a song set list, but he played most of them, including his popular tracks “Love is a Bitch,” “Had Some Drinks,” “Your Mother Was Cheaper,” “Same Old Song,” “Back of My Mind” and “You Say,” as well as his newest songs “Lost the Game” and “I Want It.” He even played a pretty good cover of the Bill Withers classic “Ain’t No Sunshine.”
The crowd went wild when he played his seminal track “Go Fuck Yourself,” and of course his biggest hit “I Feel Like I’m Drowning.” I apologize for the sound quality of this video I filmed on my Samsung Galaxy, as the heavy bass sounds overpowering and distorted at times (not to mention the added vocals of the women standing next to me!). But his awesome guitar-playing and on-stage charisma is strongly evident, and the lights and visuals are pretty terrific as well.
Two Feet played for approximately one hour and 15 minutes, then humbly thanked the crowd and walked off stage. The audience shouted for an encore, whereupon he and Huff returned as the stage lights went back on. He asked the crowd what he should play, then decided to do an encore of “I Feel Like I’m Drowning.” We would have been thrilled had he played “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”! He gave us his all, and we left grateful, happy and devoted fans.
1. LOADING ZONES – Kurt Vile (3)
2. NINA CRIED POWER – Hozier featuring Mavis Staples (1)
3. GHOST – Badflower (2)
4. ALL MY FRIENDS – The Revivalists (4)
5. MY BLOOD – twenty one pilots (6)
6. BODY TALKS – The Struts (7)
7. SHE’S KEROSENE – The Interrupters (8)
8. IN MY MIND – Draft Evader (9)
9. UH HUH – Jade Bird (10)
10. HAPPIER – Marshmello featuring Bastille (11)
11. GUIDING LIGHT – Mumford & Sons (12)
12. DIZZY – The Million Reasons (5)
13. TIDAL WAVE – Portugal.The Man (13)
14. SHAME – Elle King (17)
15. HURT PEOPLE – Two Feet featuring Madison Love (23)
16. SUPERWOMAN SWAY – Brett Vogel (19)
17. UNREALITIES – Dying Habit (20)
18. YOU’RE SOMEBODY ELSE – flora cash (21)
19. THESE ARE MY FRIENDS – lovelytheband (22)
20. BURN THE HOUSE DOWN – AJR (14)
21. VISIONS – Dirty Heads featuring Kitten (24)
22. PANIC – Agency Panic (15)
23. MAKE IT UP AS I GO – Mike Shinoda featuring K.Flay (25)
24. CLOSER – IAMWARFACE (18) 18th week on chart
25. BETTER NOW – Post Malone (16)
26. FOREVER – Billy Raffoul (27)
27. “99” – Barns Courtney (28)
28. WANDER – Vox Eagle featuring Pierre Fontaine (29)
29. IN THE WATER – The Underground Vault (30)
30. YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN – Billie Eilish (Re-Entry)
1. NINA CRIED POWER – Hozier featuring Mavis Staples (1) 3rd week #1
2. GHOST – Badflower (2)
3. LOADING ZONES – Kurt Vile (8)
4. ALL MY FRIENDS – The Revivalists (5)
5. DIZZY – The Million Reasons (3)
6. MY BLOOD – twenty one pilots (16)
7. BODY TALKS – The Struts (9)
8. SHE’S KEROSENE – The Interrupters (10)
9. IN MY MIND – Draft Evader (12)
10. UH HUH – Jade Bird (14)
11. HAPPIER – Marshmello featuring Bastille (15)
12. GUIDING LIGHT – Mumford & Sons (17)
13. TIDAL WAVE – Portugal.The Man (11)
14. BURN THE HOUSE DOWN – AJR (4)
15. PANIC – Agency Panic (7)
16. BETTER NOW – Post Malone (6)
17. SHAME – Elle King (18)
18. CLOSER – IAMWARFACE (13)
19. SUPERWOMAN SWAY – Brett Vogel (20)
20. UNREALITIES – Dying Habit (21)
21. YOU’RE SOMEBODY ELSE – flora cash (22)
22. THESE ARE MY FRIENDS – lovelytheband (23)
23. HURT PEOPLE – Two Feet featuring Madison Love (27)
24. VISIONS – Dirty Heads featuring Kitten (26)
25. MAKE IT UP AS I GO – Mike Shinoda featuring K.Flay (28)
26. NATURAL – Imagine Dragons (19)
27. FOREVER – Billy Raffoul (30)
28. “99” – Barns Courtney (N)
29. WANDER – Vox Eagle featuring Pierre Fontaine (N)
30. IN THE WATER – The Underground Vault (N)
1. NINA CRIED POWER – Hozier featuring Mavis Staples (1)
2. GHOST – Badflower (3)
3. DIZZY – The Million Reasons (2)
4. BURN THE HOUSE DOWN – AJR (4)
5. ALL MY FRIENDS – The Revivalists (5)
6. BETTER NOW – Post Malone (6)
7. PANIC – Agency Panic (8)
8. LOADING ZONES – Kurt Vile (14)
9. BODY TALKS – The Struts (9)
10. SHE’S KEROSENE – The Interrupters (10)
11. TIDAL WAVE – Portugal.The Man (11)
12. IN MY MIND – Draft Evader (13)
13. CLOSER – IAMWARFACE (7)
14. UH HUH – Jade Bird (15)
15. HAPPIER – Marshmello featuring Bastille (16)
16. MY BLOOD – twenty one pilots (17)
17. GUIDING LIGHT – Mumford & Sons (20)
18. SHAME – Elle King (19)
19. NATURAL – Imagine Dragons (12)
20. SUPERWOMAN SWAY – Brett Vogel (22)
21. UNREALITIES – Dying Habit (23)
22. YOU’RE SOMEBODY ELSE – flora cash (24)
23. THESE ARE MY FRIENDS – lovelytheband (25)
24. NEVERMIND – Dennis Lloyd (18)
25. YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN – Billie Eilish (26)
26. VISIONS – Dirty Heads featuring Kitten (27)
27. HURT PEOPLE – Two Feet featuring Madison Love (29)
28. MAKE IT UP AS I GO – Mike Shinoda featuring K.Flay (30)
29. ARE YOU READY – Disturbed (N)
30. FOREVER – Billy Raffoul (N)
I. NINA CRIED POWER – Hozier featuring Mavis Staples (2)
2. DIZZY – The Million Reasons (1)
3. GHOST – Badflower (3)
4. BURN THE HOUSE DOWN – AJR (7)
5. ALL MY FRIENDS – The Revivalists (8)
6. BETTER NOW – Post Malone (6)
7. CLOSER – IAMWARFACE (4)
8. PANIC – Agency Panic (10)
9. BODY TALKS – The Struts (13)
10. SHE’S KEROSENE – The Interrupters (14)
11. TIDAL WAVE – Portugal.The Man (12)
12. NATURAL – Imagine Dragons (5)
13. IN MY MIND – Draft Evader (15)
14. LOADING ZONES – Kurt Vile (16)
15. UH HUH – Jade Bird (17)
16. HAPPIER – Marshmello featuring Bastille (18)
17. MY BLOOD – twenty one pilots (19)
18. NEVERMIND – Dennis Lloyd (9)
19. SHAME – Elle King (20)
20. GUIDING LIGHT – Mumford & Sons (22)
21. CITY LOOKS PRETTY – Courtney Barnett (11)
22. SUPERWOMAN SWAY – Brett Vogel (23)
23. UNREALITIES – Dying Habit (25)
24. YOU’RE SOMEBODY ELSE – flora cash (26)
25. THESE ARE MY FRIENDS – lovelytheband (28)
26. YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN – Billie Eilish (29)
27. VISIONS – Dirty Heads featuring Kitten (30)
28. WHEN THE CURTAIN FALLS – Greta Van Fleet (21)
29. HURT PEOPLE – Two Feet featuring Madison Love (N)
30. MAKE IT UP AS I GO – Mike Shinoda featuring K.Flay (N)
1. GOLD RUSH – Death Cab for Cutie (2) 2. CLOSER – IAMWARFACE (3) 3. JUMPSUIT – twenty one pilots (1) 4. NATURAL – Imagine Dragons (6) 5. DIZZY – The Million Reasons (7) 6. 44 – Oli Barton & the Movement (5) 7. LIVING IN THE FUTURE – Dawes (9) 8. NEVERMIND – Dennis Lloyd (11) 9. RED MOON SKY – Face of Stone (4) 10. FEVER PITCH – Rainbow Kitten Surprise (8) 11. WHEN THE CURTAIN FALLS – Greta Van Fleet (13) 12. GHOST – Badflower (14) 13. UNWIND – John Defeo (10) 21st week on chart 14. SIT NEXT TO ME – Foster the People (12) 48th week on chart 15. RIDE OR DIE – The Knocks featuring Foster the People (17) 16. BETTER NOW – Post Malone (20) 17. SOMETHING HUMAN – Muse (18) 18. BURN THE HOUSE DOWN – AJR (19) 19. ALL MY FRIENDS – The Revivalists (21) 20. CRAZY – From Ashes to New (24) 21. CITY LOOKS PRETTY – Courtney Barnett (25) 22. HUNGER – Florence + the Machine (15) 23. I FEEL LIKE I’M DROWNING – Two Feet (16) 22nd week on chart 24. DEAD TO ME – Reality Suite (27) 25. PANIC – Agency Panic (28) 26. HUMILITY – Gorillaz featuring George Benson (22) 27. TIDAL WAVE – Portugal.The Man (30) 28. HI HELLO – Johnny Marr (23) 29. BODY TALKS – The Struts (N) 30. IN MY MIND – Draft Evader (N)
ECLECTIC MUSIC LOVER 