Review: Leroy from the North unleashes a Zebulon party for My Favorite Gun

Americana rocker Leroy from the North (the moniker for Eli Wulfmeier) recently celebrated his sophomore album release My Favorite Gun at Zebulon. The packed venue was filled with people wearing trucker caps and cowboy hats. It didn't take long for couples to take to the front of the stage to show off their dancing skills. Whenever the band hit the 70s rock beat, the back step bleachers shook. His Spotify bio describes his music as follows, "LA based, Americana/rock band, Leroy From the North, could best be described as a velour track suit with a Cowboy hat. influenced by the sounds of 70's country gold, mixed with a little Detroit steel . . . "

Leroy from the North at Zebulon

I first ran into Leroy from the North in 2017. Jesse Jo Stark was finishing up a residency at The Echo. The lineup was a DIY Los Angeles memorable moment to say the least. Leroy from the North opened up the night. Whispertown (Morgan Nalger) was up next. Of note, she also had a recent record release show -- at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Then there was Jesse Jo Stark. Closing out the night was Night Talks. Okay, maybe it is a strange situation for Night Talks to be part of that line-up even though I do love that band. Some 9 years later, all are still actively putting out music. 

Jumping back to the present: the set started off with ear worm "Laid to Rest" from My Favorite Gun. A song that had you wanting to dance under the desert sun. The three piece band then went flashback to 2019 for "Into the Sunset" that was on the band's Health and Fitness EP. The roots rock tune got the dancers out in front of the stage. With the ice broken, the front of the stage was used throughout the rest of the set as a dance section.

Leroy from the North at Zebulon

The set included a selection of songs from his debut album Toughen Up, which included the title track. "Push" from said album had a nifty guitar opening. The unreleased "Hollow People" was a grinder of a tune.       

He held the title track to his My Favorite Gun album until the penultimate moment on the setlist. It is a steady rocker that mesmerizes. The music video (you can watch it here) is about an obsessed fan of a movie star. The video ends with the fan on the sidewalk outside the star's home, a gun in her purse. The gun, a metaphor for going for an extreme deranged outcome? No one sees my face or hears the poison from my mouth.

Leroy from the North at Zebulon

The night ended with a return back to the 2019 EP with the foot stomping "Fast Friends." The song had traces of psychedelic flair. It gave one last opportunity for couples to dance and others to groove.  

Setlist: Laid to Rest, Into the Sunset, Toughen Up, Buckaroo, Hollow People, Leaving, Push, The Wind is Blue, The War That Never Was, White Knights, Poison the Well, Powderhead, My Favorite Gun, Fast Friends.