Nite Jewel 7/7/16 Bar

LA based pop-tronica outfit Nite Jewel played to a sparse crowd at Bar. Dreamy synth pop came from a trio of musicians. Leader and singer Ramona Gonzalez coaxed beats from her keyboards. The trio had another female on keys and a young gentleman with a hat on a compact synth drum. Gonzalez' vocals are made for the dance floor, and her recent clubby collaboration with Dam Funk (aptly titled Nite Funk) is sure to be stretched out on the club circuit. When watching a live performance of this type of music, it's hard to reconcile the skills needed to play the instruments. In the Jazz, or jam, or rock worlds, virtuosity or originality is rewarded. In the dance pop world, it's song structure and beats that garners the prize. There's no doubt that Nite Jewel are gifted at their craft, but there is a fine line between a dance pop drummer and a gamer with a hat.