For the third stop on her ongoing North American tour, Thai-born drummer Salin hits up Los Angeles in the Lodge Room at Highland Park on Wednesday June 25th. This tour is in honor of the second record by her hand, Rammana. The sold out show is opened by a laid-back trio from Oakland called KATZROAR.
The dreamy and mellow music of KATZROAR is the perfect start for the evening, getting the crowd ready to dance along all night. Their set features the soulfully smooth voice by singer Katy Avila, taking us on a psychedelic journey with their songs. Their new record UNDERWORLD just released in May, so naturally they play a couple of songs off of the third release, including the song “Make Anything, Everything” later in the setlist, inviting the crowd to come closer through the lyrics. The band closes their set out with a cover of a Santana song, an artist she grew up listening to with her dad, who is standing close to the front to cheer her on as well. She speaks about finding unity amongst each other, and what better way to get there than through music.
With the crowd all nice and loosened up, it’s time for the headliner Salin. The drum set has a perfect place center of the stage, and the venue offers the perfect ‘framing’ for her in the arch behind it. It quickly gets clear that every musician on stage gets their chance to shine tonight though, with every member getting their own solo at one point during the set, and every solo is met with so much enthusiasm from the other band members as well as the crowd.
The band seems in conversation with each other through their respective instruments, and each person tells a vital part of the story they’re guiding us through. Salin’s record Rammana tells us a story of harmony, reimagining traditional Thai customs through her jazz and afro-funk songs. The title track “Rammana” is inspired by Thai indigenous sea nomads, singing “Rammana” to invite the different spirits to come celebrate together with the locals, a clear message for tonight’s show as well. During the performance of Salin’s song, she invites the crowd to chant ‘ma-chai-yo!’ with them, meaning ‘cheers’. Tonight is a huge celebration of her Thai heritage, but also just a general invitation for everyone to dance along all night, and everyone on the floor loses themselves in the music.
At the end of the night, everyone got their own spotlight: the saxophone, the trumpet, bass, guitar and keys all got their moment, but the real star of the show is at the center of it all in a sparkly jumpsuit, so we can’t go home without a spectacular drum solo, during the last song of the evening. Throughout the night, her smile didn’t falter once, playing the most complex songs behind her kit as if it’s nothing, and the drum solo is a perfect way to close it out.
The feeling of family and friendship was palpable on Wednesday evening, everybody finding a connection through the music. The night features a very eclectic crowd, with people from all backgrounds, but as Salin states herself: “Some of us might not speak the same language, but we all understand music.” The drummer lived near Highland Park in the past, making it somewhat of a homecoming too, and it all feels very familial all around. Strangers don’t exist when we’re all connected through music.
Salin’s Rammana tour will continue throughout the United States for the next weeks, before making her way to Europe in October/November. Tickets can be found on https://salinmusic.com/#shows.
GALLERY: Salin with KATZROAR at The Lodge Room in Los Angeles, California (June 25, 2025)
