EVAN HONER: IT'S A LONG ROAD TO LA
EL REY THEATRE — LOS ANGELES, CA
This past Saturday, Evan Honer’s IT’S A LONG ROAD TOUR rolled into Los Angeles, leaving the city buzzing long after the final note. Fans lined Wilshire Boulevard, eager to step inside the iconic El Rey Theatre and experience the night Honer had in store for them.
Kicking things off was LA’s very own Timmy Skelly, who set the tone with electrifying energy and a voice that Honer would later call “the best voice I’ve ever heard.” Armed with standout tracks like "Telluride" and "Summer of '16", Skelly had the iconic chandeliers shaking and the crowd fully locked in. By the end of his set, fans flooded the merch table, eager for a piece to commemorate their new favorite artist.
As the lights dimmed, anticipation swept through the theatre. Glowing red letters that spelled out “Evan Honer” illuminated the stage as the first electric guitar notes rang out. Band members filed in one by one. Suddenly, Honer himself appeared in a dramatic aerial entrance that instantly set the tone for the night, marking one of the best entrances I’ve seen.
Without missing a beat, he launched into "Everything I've Wanted", igniting the crowd. From there, the energy never dipped. Even his more emotionally raw songs carried a powerful momentum, with highlights including "Mr. Meyers", "Brother", and "Maybe For Once". From above, the crowd moved as one with every lyric echoed back with full force, every chorus met with deafening cheers.
Then came one of the night’s most memorable moments: Honer introduced a very special guest… his dog, Leroy. As “Leroy Brown” played, he lifted his furry companion high into the air for the entire venue to see, sending the crowd into yet another frenzy. It was a moment equal parts wholesome and unforgettable, and solidifying my stance that every show is incomplete with the presence of a dog.
As the night comes to a close, Honer brings out fan favorites such as "idk shit about cars" and "Wonder". The final songs were two of his most iconic covers, “Sugar We’re Going Down” and "Jersey Giant". This marked the perfect conclusion to one of the best shows that I have witnessed this year.
Even though the tour only has a few stops left, this is only the beginning for Honer. He has quickly become one of the best storytellers in this generation of artists, and I can’t wait to see what journeys he takes us on next.
