Amigo The Devil: Concert Review
- Andres Galvez
- Aug 1
- 3 min read
With David Talley & Tele Novella
The Observatory, Orange County
May 25th, 2025
Review by Andres Galvez
In May, I had the opportunity to photograph one of the most unique bands I have ever encountered, Amigo The Devil. Coming into this show, I was not sure what to expect. I had never heard the band before and admittedly, did not do much research in advance. However, after the show, they are now on my top playlist.
Amigo The Devil is a solo project of Danny Kiranos as singer-songwriter, guitarist, and banjo player. Amigo The Devil started releasing EPs in late 2010 with his debut song "Manimals". It wasn't until 2018 that his singles were collected into an official album release and then a standalone album in Everything is Fine in October of 2018.
Amigo The Devil's style can be described as folk/country /metal. However, what truly sets him apart is his unique on-stage performance. He is not just a musician but a showman and a bit of a comedian.
Amigo The Devil was opened by Tele Novella. An indie psych-pop band based out of Austin, TX, with Natalie Gordon (Vocals and Guitar) and Jason Chronis (Bass and Keyboard). This band was equally unique and made the perfect opener to get everyone ready for the big show. They played several of their top songs, such as "Eggs in One Basket" and "Funeral".
Following Telle Novella was David Talley. A singer-songwriter from Colombia and roots in Ecuador. David Talley started his musical career at the age of 15 and has had his band for some time. Usually, he plays as lead guitar for Amigo The Devil; however, tonight, David Talley performed his original work with the world, a mix of personal stories and western folklore.
David Talley's music is hypnotizing. His musical style tells a story with slow melodies perfect for dark night around a western campfire. His songwriting is genuine and raw, telling the story of his life, both good and bad. He seemed to have the audience's attention with the entire venue silent as he sang to everyone's soul. David Talley is a gifted songwriter and storyteller; I look forward to seeing more from him!
The moment everyone has been waiting for, Amigo The Devil takes the stage for a unique performance, opening with "Dahmer Does Hollywood". Now, unlike most performances where an artist just plays their songs, Amigo The Devil's entire show was an improv. Telling stories, jokes, and addicting details and back stories between songs. He often interacted with the crowd, telling them details about his journey on tour, where he had been, and his experiences, making everyone feel as if they were included in the show.
Devil The Amigo played songs from his 2024 album Yours Until The War Is Over, such as “Hanging By The Roots”, later switching to guitar and playing “Cannibal Within” (one of my favorite songs) among others. One of my favorite moments of the show was when he played "Wonderful (Wafflehouse)", a song written while on tour. It started with a short monologue that was absolutely hilarious. The crowd was loving it! (See video below).
From openers to Amigo The Devil, this show was a blast. Coming in with little to no exposure to who these bands were, I knew I was coming to experience something new, but I did not know I was going to walk out with a new favorite band. Amigo The Devil's music is good, but his live performance is something special!
Credits
Artist: Amigo the Devil, David Talley, Tele Novella
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