I first came across Telah! when they played Echo Park Rising's Sunday after party (that's what I called it) at Sticky Rice in 2024. I don't believe I was there for all the bands that performed that Sunday, but they were the first band playing when I arrived. Their world music tunes stuck with me. This past October 2025, I got to catch up with them once again at The Goldfish (the sister location for Sticky Rice). Based on scanning their Instagram, I believe this was also their first set since Echo Park Rising. Though this was only the second time I've ever seen a set, this band has always remained top of mind. This is, admittedly, partially driven by the fact that I cross paths with their leader Dani who works at The Goldfish and also worked Echo Park Rising 2025 at the Sticky Rice stage.
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| TELAH! at The Goldfish |
Being late October, the band was dressed in costumes. Dani kept things simple with a tree-like paper cutout stuck to her nose, a wig, and a clam shell bikini. She tossed that tree-like cutout soon into the set and a little later the wig went flying. Keyboardist Nick wore a sailor hat and blue-ish gloves. They said during the set, "It isn't easy playing keyboards with gloves." The crowd then started to chant, "Take it off. Take it off." They did take it off and tossed one out into the audience. It just so happened that both Nick's glove and Dani's wig were tossed to the same person (I think an easy assumption is that the individual is a friend of the band).
Synth player Ari was dressed in an astronaut uniform and had ear warmers. She had her fans out in the crowd. Throughout the set, one could hear the chants, "Ari! Ari! Ari!" Bassist Ave Noelle wore a dunce cap. Guitarist Jordan went with a casual white collar outfit that contrasted with an object of some sort on his head. Their drummer took the spooky season more seriously, wearing a full body costume of (what I think) The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
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| TELAH! at The Goldfish |
It was mentioned that the band doesn't play that much, but what keeps them together is that they've all gone through loss and have been there for one another. Their Spotify bio says the following, "TELAH! is a vibrant collective of queer multi-instrumentalists and songwriters crafting sonic journeys to stir your emotions." That was highlighted during their 9 song set when, I do believe, four different band members took on lead vocal duties for specific songs. Prior to their song "NME" the band got the crowd into a chant. "When we say 'TELAH!' You say 'Sucks!'" The audience laughed as they participated and the band responded with a final thought, "We don't suck, okay." Their final song of the night was the unreleased "Hide," which ended their set with a cacophony of sound.
The song spotlight goes to "Winner." It is a smooth R&B song that flashes influences of Sade. A song about a night where you take your chances.
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| TELAH! at The Goldfish |
Don't miss it
If you're feeling shy
You can close your eyes
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