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A Night @ The Hive Gallery from Joshua Clarkson on Vimeo.

Michael Nhat’s show at The Smell last Friday was reviewed by LA Record. Here is what they had to say:

The night opens with Quangstuh, who performs sedate electronica, standing stoically as he fondles a MIDI controller producing Postal Servicey videogame sounds. His lack of energy is made up for by Former Ghosts (Freddy Rupert of This Song is a Mess But So Am I.) When he’s not singing or playing keys, Rupert is dancing himself into fervor over his Xiu-Xiu-style electro-pop. My friend says she even sees him crying. However, the real star of the night is local favorite Michael Nhat. The set starts with a diminutive twentysomething, dressed crisply in a black pullover and white button-down, sitting in a chair with his head slightly bowed. Newcomers probably don’t know what to expect, but Nhat fans can bank on a saucy, effervescent performance. They are not let down. Anywhere Michael Nhat plays is a party, and Friday night, in the echoey back room of The Smell with an audience of about fifteen, is no exception. Within minutes Nhat has the small crowd in a tizzy, dancing with abandon to his unique brand of rap-hip-hip-pop. Fiercely intelligent, standout lyrics—dark, irreverent, and brutally honest—sear over the unabashedly catchy music, comprised of homemade synth beats and/or snappy, classy samples. Nhat’s inimitable throaty voice and perfectly enunciated rapid-fire delivery (with just the right dose of attitude) complete the outfit. Although he’s only headlining the Smell show because Jogger dropped out, it’s nice to see Nhat, who’s been making waves underground for the last couple years, start to find the prominence he deserves.

—Regina Cherene

http://larecord.com/revs/2009/08/05/live-review-michael-nhat-former-ghosts-quangstuh/