Written and Pictures by @hollow.memory | October 17, 2025

Covet and LITE electrified Southern California with dynamic, instrumental soundscapes during the final stretch of their West Coast tour, performing back-to-back shows at The Observatory in Santa Ana on Oct. 16 and the Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles on Oct. 17.

Led by guitarist and frontwoman Yvette Young and joined by bassist Claire Puckett and drummer Jessica Burdeaux, Covet delivered a set that spanned albums such as effloresce, technicolor, and their latest release, catharsis. Known for her intricate tapping and emotionally expressive stage presence, Young swept the crowd into a swirl of melodic highs and moody, atmospheric lows, turning the night into a fully immersive experience.

As a mathrock enjoyer, I felt that Covet would be on many listeners’ bucket list of artists to see. I can happily say that it was a very cathartic decision. The moments ranged from the shoegazey and grungy noise of “Coronal” to the more upbeat and energetic sounds of “Firebird,” which had the venue dancing. Fan favourites like “Glimmer” and “Shibuya” had the crowd cheering as the first few familiar notes hit. Young may be known primarily as a guitarist, but it was exciting to see her sing during “Parachute” and show off her piano skills in “Interlude.” Covet ended the night with their new single “Denouement,” which Young collaborated on with LITE. Due to not having a seven-string guitar, the band was unable to perform songs like “Seadragon” and “Falkor.”

Covet’s Young and Bub | Photos by **@hollow.memory**

For the final two shows of the tour, Young brought out electric violinist Mia Asano as a special guest. Asano joined Covet during the opening track “Odessa” and reappeared later in the night for “Bronco,” adding another layer of vibrant, technically complex melodies.

Throughout the night, Young kept the crowd engaged not only through music but through her personality. Before their performance, she introduced her dog, Bub. Later on, Young FaceTimed a fan’s mother mid-set, asked the crowd about their cartoon crushes (hers being Brak from “Space Ghost”). At The Observatory she handled gear malfunctions with charm when their amp broke. While waiting, they borrowed LITE’s equipment as Young encouraged the crowd to hum the “Jeopardy!” theme.

Opening for Covet on the tour all the way from Japan was LITE, which consists of Nobuyuki Takeda and Kozo Kusumoto on guitar, Jun Izawa on bass, and Akinori Yamamoto on drums. Having released their latest EP, The Beyond, at the beginning of October, this tour marks their first U.S. performance in six years. Their energetic, high-tempo precision and displaced rhythms set a powerful tone for the evening, complementing Covet’s emotional delivery.

Wylie Hopkins | Photos by **@hollow.memory**

Before LITE took the stage, the night opened with Wylie Hopkins, whose slow, dreamy alternative/indie set eased the crowd into the evening. Young mentioned onstage, this run marks Hopkins’ first tour ever, with the first show also being the first time he had performed live. His mellow vocals and atmospheric arrangements wrapped the audience in a hazy calm, making LITE’s sudden shift into high-tempo math rock feel even more explosive.

To say the least, LITE’s appearance alone is worth seeing. As members of the original lineup since the band’s creation in 2003, you can definitely tell they have their performance locked in. A standout was bassist Jun Izawa; he gave it his all, making his stage presence especially memorable during “Sosue.” Nonetheless, the other band members were feeding off the energy of both the stage and the crowd. Midway through their set, Young came out to perform “SUNSET,” a track featured on “The Beyond,” where her signature style blended seamlessly with LITE’s rhythm-driven intensity.

I am fortunate enough to have seen them for two nights, and despite sharing the same setlist, each show carried its own distinct personality. At The Observatory, I focused on documenting the night and soaking in the energy of a crowd that jumped and danced freely on the main floor. At the Teragram Ballroom, I went more as a fan; and from what I could tell, the crowd remained loud, cheerful, and fully engaged throughout the night. For anyone who loves math rock, emotional instrumentals or watching musicians lose themselves onstage, Covet and LITE definitely did not disappoint.