Song Spotlight: Essencer's So Long (a night at The Goldfish)

The Rocknite LA showcase at The Goldfish recently had Essencer on their schedule. I've been following the Lee Jenkins (vocalist and bassist) and Alec Nelson (guitarist) founded band since 2022. One might say Essencer has only been around since 2024, but back in 2022 there was a band called Wizard Puffs that crossed my radar when I went to Highland Park Bowl (they used to have bands playing in a side room) to catch Diva and the Pearly Gates. Nelson kept playing a recording of a voice-over saying "Wizard Puffs" and Jenkins would start cracking up. I figured they were a dreamy-eccentric pop band.   

Essencer at The Goldfish

In 2024, the band went through their name change. Along with the name change, Jenkins shifted from keyboards to bass. The dreamy qualities behind their music still remain, but that instrumental shift allows the band to amp it up. At The Goldfish they highlighted that right at the start with their first song "Shine" that got the night (they were the first band of the night) started off with a bang.  

The band kept the volume turned up for "Crushing," which was offset by soft tender vocals. The band caught me off guard with third song of the night, "Dissolve." As I was listening (taking photos), I was thinking that someone was singing like a thousand angels. I must have realized that no one was actually singing at the moment, because it hit me that the band was making their guitars sing. 

Essencer at The Goldfish

Their tune "Epitaph" perhaps reflected back to their Wizard Puffs days the most with a shoegaze focus. The Goldfish lights shined a blue light down on Jenkins, giving a sense of tranquility. 

I'm giving the song spotlight to a song that was not on their setlist, but is their latest release, "So Long." A song that is a dreamy pop jewel that allows Jenkins' vocals to float along with the grandness of the music. A tune about the physical connection of lovers.

Essencer at The Goldfish

now you're here and i needed you so long
here in these arms

Setlist: Shine, Crushing, Dissolve, Looking Backwards, Epitaph, Dagger.