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Finneas at the Wiltern

November 2, 2021

Finneas brought his “Optimist Tour” to the Wiltern for two nights (10/27 and 10/28) with Marinelli.

Finneas Baird O’Connell known just by his first name is best known for his work with the biggest teenager in music today, his sister Billie Eilish. As a producer/writer with Eilish Finneas won six Grammys in 2019 for her debut album When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? including Album of the Year, and Producer of the Year (Non-classical). Finneas won another two Grammys this year for Eilish’s second album Happier Than Ever. After releasing a few singles and an EP Finneas released his debut album Optimist this year on Interscope Records. Not even 25 yet, Finneas is not just an 8-time Grammy winner but also has a ASCAP Pop Music Award, Apple Music Award, and an iHeart Music Award. Outside of music, Finneas played the role of Alistair on the hit TV show Glee and appeared on Modern Family.

Finneas has been quite busy lately with performances at Bottle Rock in Napa Valley, CA, the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, NV, and earlier this month Austin City Limits in Austin, TX. Outside of performances, Finneas was one of 12 artists on Ringo Starr’s latest EP Zoom In appearing on “Here’s to the Nights” as well as a collaboration with Ashe on “Till Forever Falls Apart” which he both co-wrote and produced. Marinelli was just a one-man band while Finneas had a keyboardist/guitarist and drummer. Finneas not only sang but also played piano and guitar. Finneas shared how he came to the Wiltern seeing groups like Arctic Monkeys and The Strokes and how honored he was to be playing this historic venue. Of all the shows I’ve seen at the Wiltern, this was definitely one of the youngest crowds which made sense being that Finneas is only 24. I thought the coolest part of the show wasn’t just the two giant squares where the bassist/keyboardist and drummer were, but Finneas’ piano that light came out of. Finneas opened with his new songs like "A Concert Six Months From Now" and "The Kids Are All Dying" both revolving around the Covid-19 Pandemic this past year. Finneas ended with “Let’s Fall in Love For the Night.”

Setlist: