Texas Meets California at The Paramount with acts West 22nd, Grey Dugan, & Blue Hour
On Friday, July 19, The Paramount was buzzing with excitement for a stellar lineup featuring Texas-based West 22nd, along with local talents Grey Dugan and Blue Hour. As the doors opened the room gradually began filling up with eager fans, all excited to hear the music they had been waiting for.
The show kicked off with Blue Hour, a band I’ve been fortunate enough to see open for other acts a couple of times in the past. Hailing from San Diego, this talented quartet is known for playing shows at San Diego State University and opening for various bands at SOMA.
Just like the previous times I’ve seen them live, their performance was outstanding, if not even better. Ashton Thoms, the lead singer of Blue Hour, brought an incredible amount of energy, which resonated with the rest of the band as they jammed throughout the set. They began their set with “Apple Core,” one of my personal favorites which had me and a few others singing along to the lyrics as I traveled around the venue capturing their performance.
They wrapped up with “July,” the song that originally introduced me to their music. The highlight of their set was definitely “Can I Call You Tonight” by Dayglow. They were able to get the whole audience hyped and sang the song along with them. I glanced around and noticed a few people singing along to the covers and their own songs as well, despite the room not being completely full yet.
Next up was Grey Dugan, who kicked off his set with the entire band jamming together seamlessly. The energy in the crowd surged as Grey took the stage and began singing, clearly eager to hear his voice. His set featured a mix of original tracks and covers, including a standout rendition of “Dark Red” by Steve Lacy, which had the audience singing along enthusiastically. The band was clearly having a blast, feeding off each other's energy and creating an electrifying atmosphere. Grey's talent and potential shone through, and the overall performance was engaging and enjoyable. The band effectively held the audience’s attention, proving their capability and promise.
Texas-based five piece band, West 22nd closed out the night with an unforgettable performance. They took on the stage in near darkness. Their instruments set the mood as the crowd eagerly awaited lead singer Logan Madsen’s entrance.
The set kicked off with “Charleston Girl” instantly igniting the crowd and prompting an enthusiastic sing-along. The energy was noticeable as they quickly moved into their next song “Sweet!” During this song, the band seamlessly engaged the crowd with a call-and-response that the audience embraced with enthusiasm. Throughout their 13 song set, West 22nd continued to keep the high energy atmosphere alive, continually involving the crowd and keeping the excitement level soaring. Nearing the end of the set, they smoothly transitioned from “Sunny Jones” into a rousing rendition of Declan McKenna’s song “Brazil,” further amplifying the crowd's energy. For their encore, they infused their performance with a cover of the song “Tongue Tied” by Grouplove, blending their unique sound with a fan-favorite track.
Every song they performed seemed to outshine the previous one, with the energy on stage perfectly mirrored by the enthusiastic crowd. Logan Madsen’s dynamic presence and genuine interactions with the audience throughout their performance underscored West 22nd’s immense potential. His ability to connect with fans in such an engaging way hints at a bright future ahead for the band, suggesting they have the potential to rise to even greater heights.
Overall, the night was a testament to the talent and charisma of each band, with West 22nd providing a powerful and memorable conclusion to an outstanding evening of live music.
View the full concert gallery here.