Elliot Randall

The Hotel Café

Hollywood, California

August 13, 2008

By Victoria Joyce
(SugarBuzz Hollywood)

Photos By David Arnspiger

San Francisco singer-songwriter, Elliot Randall swung into Hollywood for a one-night stand at the Hotel Café.

Hollywood is hopping these days. Some say it beats out the Sunset Strip and Silverlake for music and clubbing. The Hotel Café is one of the reasons. Cool little place down the block from the Burgundy Room (excellent jukebox) and across the street from The Velvet Margarita (celebutantes & starlets).

The Hotel Café is just off Cahuenga & Selma, a stone’s throw from Amoeba. Perfect for showcases with an industry friendly room, cute little stage, not bad sound, great food (cheap) and you enter from the alley. The alley? Where are we? Chicago? Alleys are as rare as brainy blondes in Tinsel Town. They are just way too urban for LA.

Back to the show. This boy, Elliot, is a comer. Getting some recent and local radio play on SF’s beloved K-FOG. And just back from Nashville where he was invited to an ASCAP songwriter’s showcase. And those good old boys are still way old-fashioned in that neck of the woods, with the emphasis on the words and music.

Randall’s vocals are very Gram Parson’s; sweet pure, middle-high, country rock voice but a little bit more interesting and darker, less innocent than the Flying Burrito Bro and showing some texture like a re-paved country road. He’s been around the block.

Randall’s playing style is simple strums and all jingle-jangle folk rock like the Byrds with little middle-eastern swirls hinting at a world beat and some of that sweet slide guitar. So Nashville.

Lyrically, he’s all about life’s absurdities and unfairness. “We don’t talk like we used to…” He treasures justice, love and wandering boot heels. His stuff is smart with a wry wit and a dreamy sadness. Song subjects are life and love lost. “I was lost, now I’m found and I can love you better the second time around.” Biblical references with a sideways glance. Very Leonard Cohen.

Elliot Randall’s poetry indicates a literate mind. He’s read and listened to plenty. We liked his new one, “Red Velvet Curtains.” There was a little bit of Scarlett O’Hara in that song. How can you not love a song called “How to Get Old?”

On his latest release “Take The Fall,” Randall is backed up by a full-blown band of excellent musicians with a natural electric energy. Tonight’s show was limited to a trio resulting in an unplugged feel and concentration on the singing. Yay.

Here’s is the set list:

1. Hold The Candle
2. How To Get Old
3. Everybody's Watching
4. Red Velvet Curtains
5. We Don't Talk Like We Used To
6. Second Time Around
7. Don't Have To Fight Anymore
8. It's Alright (Martin Sexton cover)

www.elliotrandall.com

www.myspace.com/elliotrandall

SugarBuzz Magazine