by Alice Zakusilo (@GhostyShibe)
As the vocalist, guitarist, and lyricist of Palehound, a fuzz rock band based in Brooklyn, El Kempner has taken their indie-drenched “journal rock” to music festivals worldwide. This performance, captured live while opening for Adrianne Lenker of the band Big Thief, is a testament to the transformative power of Kempner's music. This tour allowed them to showcase their work on the global stage, their technique-driven and lyrically impressive music culminating in an utterly moving live performance at the First Congressional Church in Los Angeles.
Their unwavering voice, delicate yet commanding, not only captivates the audience but also haunts them with its raw vulnerability. The heartbreak and pain on display elevate this performance into something profoundly moving. Their crisp, clear vocals echo through the walls, and Kempner's ringing guitar provides a warmth to the sorrow-filled songs. The way their voice cracks through the magnificent church walls creates an allure that compels the audience to keep listening, reverberating around the room, transforming Kempner’s soft-spoken presence into something grandiose.
“Killer” is unique for being a melancholy ballad with a darker country-western twist. This song reveals the desire for vengeance for those who have hurt others, about killing those monsters who have hurt those closest to us. It showcases a demand for justice, a call to right the wrongs within a society that has allowed evil, vindictive people to get away with hurting innocents. The once gentle and serene vocals take on a much grittier, heavier tone. Kempner seeks vengeance for all the people who abused and hurt their friends, exposing this desire of wanting to “ be the one who kills the man who hurt you, darling.” Sonically different from the other songs, “Killer” leaves an impression and a slow-burning flame thirsting for retribution, a persistent urge for redress, and a soft longing for peace of mind and a serene existence for Kempner’s once-wounded friends.
“Your Boyfriend's Gun” is one of the standouts on Live at First Congregational Church, talking about the difficulty of loving someone who is consistently putting themselves in danger. It has this ghostly, eerie quality; Kempner’s voice carries this heart-wrenching fear of being in a life-or-death situation while trying to protect those who matter to you. It creates this looming dread amid the anxiety of waiting for the other shoe to drop. This tension created is deeply imbued into every note. “You think he’s playing, and it’s all in fun/ as I'm staring down the barrel of your boyfriend's gun” Kempner sings, creating stillness, an overwhelming fear of being in that situation. The person you so desperately want to protect is blissfully unaware of the looming threat of the wolf in sheep's clothing they are with. Its meaning is poignant in a world where danger lurks behind every corner. It’s about the desire to protect those around you, how people who have never felt safe often go to some of the most dangerous people to find that protection they hadn’t known elsewhere. The severity of the situation, fear, and pain are tangible throughout the performance.
Kempner's haunting echoes and melancholic guitars leave a lasting impression on this performance. It’s a deeply emotional and transformative journey, exploring ideas of vulnerability, vengeance, fear, and the longing to protect loved ones. Their soft-spoken manner and borderline ghost-like singing is coupled with their guitar's warmth to create an exceptionally memorable performance. It serves as this especially important reminder of how music can confront pain, elevate sorrow, and ultimately offer a much-needed sense of catharsis that can be so difficult to gain.