Capital Cities to Perform in Their Hometown of Los Angeles

Sandra Miska

Indie-rock band, Capital Cities, will be performing at the Fonda Theatre on November 20 and 21. However, less than six years ago, in 2008, members Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian met through a Craigslist ad. Originally working as jingle writers, they decided to form Capital Cities three years into their partnership.

They are most well-known for their two hits “Safe and Sound.” and “Kangaroo Court.”  Merchant and Simonian weren’t even looking for fame and fortune as they wrote “Safe and Sound” with little intention.

“The initial gut response for that song from our friends was that it was a hit,” Simonian told antiMusic. “We had all this confidence with the song, but we weren’t sure if we had dialed in the right production for it so we literally recorded eight or nine versions of that song.”

Capital Cities released a self-titled EP off their own label before signing with Capitol Records in 2012.  Their LP “In A Tidal Wave of Mystery” was released on June 4, 2013, and the rest is history.

Although he was born in Syria, Simonian is of Armenian descent, like many in the Los Angeles area.  His parents were living in Lebanon and fled due to civil war shortly before their son’s birth in 1978.  Afterwards, they moved back to Lebanon where they stayed until immigrating to the US in 1985.

Merchant, who he seems to keep a lower profile than his music partner, is originally from San Francisco.  Growing up, he was obsessed with the Michael Jackson album “Thriller.”  He also adored Farrah Fawcett, as his favorite Capital Cities song is titled “Farrah Fawcett Hair.”

“…it’s a song about all of the things in life that are just undeniable good like that iconic poster of Farrah Fawcett and you see it and think, ‘Whoa, she has great hair,’ he explained to The Island Packet.  “Or Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” It’s a song that celebrates little things like that.”

Capital Cities will perform at the Fonda Theatre November 20 and 21.  For ticket information, visit the Fonda Theatre website.