Laurel Canyon by way of now
Likely choices, easy sway
Drugdealer is a Los Angeles soft-rock project noted for sunlit keys, conversational vocals, and a sly sense of humor. The group evolved from a rotating studio collective into a steady road band around the
Hiding in Plain Sight era, which gives the show tighter grooves without losing charm. Expect a mellow, precise set that pulls from
The End of Comedy,
Raw Honey, and
Hiding in Plain Sight, with likely picks like
Suddenly,
Honey, and
Someone to Love. The crowd skews mixed in age and background, with vinyl-minded listeners, casual date night pairs, and musicians clocking pedal choices while nodding along. A neat bit of history is that the bandleader previously released music as
Run DMT and
Salvia Plath, and
Suddenly originally featured
Weyes Blood on vocals. You might also catch an easygoing stage switch where a different singer takes the lead on a couple of tunes, a nod to the record's guest-heavy roots. Note: the song picks and staging ideas here are my best guesses based on recent shows and may shift on the night.
Soft-Rock Clubhouse Etiquette
Pastel tees and patient singalongs
Shared cues, low drama
The room reads vintage but not costume, with corduroy, worn denim, loafers, and a few breezy dresses near the front. Folks hum harmonies on
Suddenly and hold back claps until the end of quieter tunes, showing a crowd that listens as much as it sings. Merch skews tasteful and retro, often pastel shirts, a simple serif logo, and a couple of vinyl pressings that sell steadily after the set. Between songs, you hear calm gear talk, quick notes on favorite session players, and polite cheers for solos rather than shouty call-outs. It feels like a small scene built on shared references to 70s studio craft and soft grooves, with room for new fans who come for the songs first.
How the Songs Breathe Live
Rhodes first, guitars second
Small changes, big feel
On stage,
Drugdealer centers the keys, often a Rhodes or a mellow synth patch, with guitars adding gentle shimmer instead of bite. Vocals stay conversational and low in the register, which lets harmonies peek through without crowding the lead. Arrangements favor mid-tempo sway, and the rhythm section plays with space, keeping kick and bass round and slightly behind the beat for glide. The band will sometimes stretch the outro of
Honey so the Rhodes and guitar can trade short phrases, a small tweak that deepens the mood without turning into a jam. When a song was cut as a duet on the record, the live version may shift keys to suit the night's singer and keep the melody relaxed. Lighting tends to be warm and steady, which fits the soft edges and gives the ears more room to focus on chord color and vocal blend.
Kindred Spirits, Same Soft Glow
Adjacent sounds worth a listen
Fans of
Weyes Blood often click with
Drugdealer because both favor classic songwriting, patient tempos, and warm, unhurried vocals.
Mild High Club brings the same loungey keys and jazz-curious chords, so the overlap is strong for listeners who like mellow complexity. If you enjoy
Whitney, the tender drum-and-falsetto feel pairs nicely with soft-rock guitar lines and easy swing found here.
TOPS fits too, sharing glossy guitar hooks and a taste for late-70s AM radio textures. Across these artists, the common draw is songs that feel lived-in rather than flashy, and bands that prioritize touch, blend, and pocket over volume.
