The Favors – Hollywood Forever Cemetery – Hollywood (A PopEntertainment.com Concert Review)
- PopEntertainment
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The Favors – Hollywood Forever Cemetery – Hollywood, CA – September 18, 2025
The air was thick with anticipation at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, and for good reason: The Favors were kicking off their headlining debut show – on the eve of the release of their debut album, The Dream.
The group formed in 2023, when singer-songwriter Ashe messaged her long-time friend and collaborator, Finneas (producer/singer-songwriter extraordinaire), about starting a band. They first worked together as co-writers of Ashe’s 2019 hit single “Moral of the Story” and collaborated again on the 2021 duet “Till Forever Falls Apart.”
This time around, they teamed up with guitarist Matthew Fildey and drummer David Marinelli to hone the band’s specific sound – drawing inspiration from The Mamas And The Papas, Carole King, Simon And Garfunkel, Fleetwood Mac, and more, to create a blend of old and new styles. The group opted to make The Dream all together in a room, old-school style, in order to capture the laidback and intimate vibe they were going for.
Hearing them live brought even more depth to their music, since the bandmates’ strong camaraderie with one another was palpable.
The Favors started their set with the live debut of “Restless Little Heart,” which mixed Ashe and Finneas’ vocals together in dreamy and aching harmonies that immediately struck a chord with fans.
They made sure to showcase the broad range of introspective lyrics and musicality found across The Dream – captivating fans through uptempo groovy songs like “The Little Mess You Made,” romantic jazzy crooners like “Ordinary People,” and melancholic 70s-infused tracks like “The Hudson.”
They also exemplified how much the band is a group effort, with drummer Marinelli taking center stage on vocals for “Someday I’ll Be Back in Hollywood” and the rest of the band seamlessly doing backup vocals to allow him to shine.
While it is a rarity to see this venue packed to the brim with passionate fans for a new band, The Favors proves that they are far from new at performing and making music. They expertly are able to paint vivid pictures through their intimate lyrics while crafting melodies that feel nostalgic yet timeless. And through it all, it is a treat to see their tight knit nature as a unit shine through on stage.
Their album release tour continues to Summerstage in New York City’s Central Park on October 1st and Stubb’s Austin City Limits Fest Nights on October 4th.
Larisa Jiao
Copyright ©2025 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: September 20, 2025.
Photos by Larisa Jiao © 2025. All rights reserved.
