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Great things from humble beginnings. It’s a saying older than time, and one equally applicable to a one-of-a-kind evening that saw Los Angeles-based indie band Evening Elephants fill a backyard in the heart of Echo Park with old and new fans alike. 

Hosted in the early spring of 2023, the aptly titled ‘The Backyard Show’ saw Evening Elephants play to a sold-out crowd, but in more ways than one, it was a landmark evening for the duo. The very same backyard that was now filled with fans eager to give caution to the wind alongside the spirited duo served as the starting point for everything thus far and to come. Originally meeting at this very backyard at the tail end of the pandemic, Evening Elephants was formed, like most bands, in unassuming fashion—the byproduct of a chance encounter and undeniable music chemistry. And while they’re likely to go on to play venues much grander in scope, this rendition of their standout single “Life Is Swell” recorded at that humble backyard is the antithesis of what makes Evening Elephants an act you can’t help but root for. 

The live rendition of “Life Is Swell” captures all the magic of not just Evening Elephants' rapturous live show but the contained chaos of a perfectly executed house show. It is the end of a long week embodied—the sonic encapsulation of throwing back a Juneshine (or three) amongst strangers and friends as the band plays on, turning all your worries, frustrations, and hopes into one crystallized bout of catharsis. In “Life Is Swell,” the only moment that matters is now—not yesterday or tomorrow—but the present, so jam along with the band and make the most of it, because, at the end of the day, ain’t life swell. 

Watch the “Life Is Swell” performance video below: