July 30, 2007 19:00

Maximo Park wrap up US tour in California

The Newcastle quintet make the rounds in LA

Photo Gallery: Maximo Park

Maximo Park wrapped up their US tour in California this weekend, playing dates in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego before heading back to the UK.

The Newcastle quintet made the rounds in Los Angeles on Friday (July 27) stopping in for a live set on renowned radio station KCRW, before playing to a packed house at the El Rey Theatre that evening.

After recording an eight-song set for KCRW at the legendary Village studio, the band were eager to tour the 40-year-old facility where the likes of The Rolling Stones, Oasis, Fleetwood Mac and Steely Dan have laid down classic albums.

"I wanna see where Michael McDonald did back-up vocals for Steely Dan!" said frontman Paul Smith before touring the studio where the band recorded 'Aja'.

Later that day, Maximo Park performed a rousing set at the El Rey Theatre for a horde of screaming fans.

"For those of you who saw us here last time, 'Hello'. For those who are new, 'Welcome to our world,'" Smith told the audience, who roared their approval.

Smith dressed up in black trousers, a white jacket, and bright green socks that stood out each time he jumped in the air and did the splits.

The band ran through several tracks from their recent album, 'Our Earthly Pleasures', as well as their 2005 debut, 'A Certain Trigger'.

"We didn't know what to expect (on this tour), but it's been really good," keyboardist Lukas Wooller told NME.COM. "We're not massive here (in America) by any stretch, but we've had some really good crowds."

At the El Rey, the band played:

'The Coast Is Always Changing'
'A Forthnight's Time'
'Now I'm All Over the Shop'
'Parisian Skies'
'Our Velocity'
'I Want You To Stay'
'By The Monument'
'Girls Who Play Guitars'
'Karaoke Plays'
'Books From Boxes'
'Apply Some Pressure'
'Nosebleed'
'The Unshockable'
'Going Missing'
'Sandblasted And Set Free'
'Limassol'

--By our Los Angeles staff.
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