SYML
SYML, Olivia Vedder
The Bellwether333 S Boylston St, Los Angeles 90017
SYML, the solo project of Brian Fennell, brings a special two-part performance to The Bellwether: a duo set with Brian Eichelberger, followed by a solo performance. Olivia Vedder is also on the bill. It is a chance to hear Fennell’s songs in both collaborative and stripped-back settings, at the Westlake room with its wraparound balcony and main-floor viewing.
Fennell was born and raised in Seattle, where he remains based as a musician, songwriter and producer. Under the SYML name, which means “simple” in Welsh, he is known for “Where’s My Love,” a platinum-selling song that spent more than 20 weeks on Billboard’s Hot Rock Songs chart. AllMusic hears “quiet, introspective songwriting” in low-key synth-augmented soundscapes, austere piano and “spectral vocals.” His work has included collaborators Guy Garvey, Lucius, Sara Watkins and Charlotte Lawrence, as well as Lana Del Rey on “Paris, Texas.” A 2025 review called Nobody Lives Here “soothing and replenishing,” with a “silky listening experience,” and described it as SYML’s “magnum opus.”
The Bellwether’s defining feature is a broad, 270-degree balcony that wraps around its main room, giving concertgoers a choice of floor or elevated viewing with a view toward the stage. The room has a wooden dance floor, a long bar along the back wall and a custom sound system; shows are general admission, with both the main floor and balcony included in a regular ticket. It is a ticketed live-music venue, and the lineup and door times vary by show. Before doors, you can get sourdough pizza, snacks or a drink at The Virginian, the in-house restaurant and lounge, which opens an hour before doors. The venue is just west of downtown Los Angeles, in Westlake, near the 110 freeway.