Gallant Returns to Los Angeles With a Powerful Night at The Fonda

Joseph Baura

Gallant, hailing from Columbia, Maryland, is one of the most talked about up-and-coming Alt R&B artists. While relatively new to the music scene, Gallant (pronounced GUH-Lant), has been making music since middle school, ultimately attending NYU where he focused on music. After moving to Los Angeles and releasing his 2014 debut “Zebra” Gallant began performing at venues throughout the area.  Two years later, with a hit single, “Weight in Gold,” collaborations with artists like Jhene Aiko, Sufjan Stevens and Zhu, and a “The Tonight Show” performance that won a standing ovation, Gallant is running at a full sprint towards star status. All the success and hard work has brought him back to L.A. at the Fonda Theatre, where he performed to a pair of sold-out crowds.

After an energetic, soulful performance by opener Eryn Allen Kane, Gallant took the spotlight. The stage was set with furniture, books and television screens showing the occasional iconic sad face logo, providing a taste of uneasiness and gloom. As soon as Gallant took his place on stage, the crowd was screaming their lungs out. Gallant began his set with the appropriately named, “Open Up.” He sang with a strong, graveled bass coupled with a high falsetto, and it was hard not to be amazed by his vocal chops. Even more remarkable was the output of energy he displayed, jolting around the stage, emoting every syllable of his lyrics and reacting to the screeching guitar riffs from his band by aimlessly traversing the stage.

Mid-way through his set, Gallant took a departure from his own music to detour into the Foo Fighter’s “Learn to Fly.” Adding his own twist, the previously upbeat motivational track turned into a reflective piece of soul that made the song feel very personal. Continuing on through his set, dodging in and out of tracks from “Zebra” and “Ology,” Gallant performed a hefty amount of music to leave his fans satisfied.

At its conclusion, the first night of Gallant’s return to L.A. was met with an overwhelming response and was evidence that his second night at the Fonda would be just as revelatory.

Gallant poured out his soul at the Fonda on Sept. 21