Show Review: Nourished By Time at The El Rey Theatre

words and photos by Jasmine Garcellano

Nourished by Time is the project of Marcus Elliott Brown, a multi-talented artist from Baltimore whose sound fuses funk, soul, post R&B, and DIY house. What started in his basement has evolved into something communal and electric.

The song that I can always count on to get me home, whether that’s from the function, work, or school is “ Hell of a Ride” by Nourished by Time. When I first settled into Santa Barbara for the quarter, their August release, The Passionate Ones, quickly became the soundtrack to my transition. It’s the kind of music that lingers, danceable yet introspective, nostalgic and new all at once. So when I found out that The Passionate Ones would be headlining at the El Rey Theatre on October 9th, 2025, I knew I had to be there.

As I entered the theatre it buzzed with that pre-show warmth, fans swapping stories about their favorite tracks, debating deep cuts, and trying to predict the setlist. It felt like a room full of friends who just hadn’t met yet. Brown and fellow bandmates, Carrington and David were also mingling easily amongst the crowd before the set. Brown’s presents were very chill and approachable, I even got a chance to introduce myself to Brown, before others came to chat him up and asked for autographs. 

Opening the night, Zsela, a musician songwriter with spectacular haunting vocals filled the room in awe. I’m most familiar with her song “ Drinking” but after this set I went back to listen to her latest album Big For You released in 2024. She performed “Lily of the Nile” and “Fire Escape” from the album. She closed her set with an a cappella cover of “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper, which turned into a bit of a singalong, that everyone was a bit off key, including myself. After Zsela’s set, I made my way to the photo pit to secure a good spot. I got talking with a fellow photographer, who also happened to be a fan, and we both agreed: this was the album of the year for us.

Shortly after, Nourished by Time took the stage, opening the curtains to “Automatic Love.” The crowd buzzed behind me, I was beaming just to be there. He flowed straight into “Idiot in the Park” and then into “Shed That Fear” from the 2023 album Erotic Probiotic 2. This newest record feels more disco-inflected by contrast, but I was thrilled they mixed in older favorites like “Daddy” and “The Fields.” I had to remind myself to keep shooting photos instead of just vibing and dancing. 

Marcus’s stage presence is magnetic in that understated way. Marcus’s dance moves felt fluid and sculptural, incorporating shoulder twins and big arm movements. He shimmied across the stage with an ease that made even his moments behind the keys feel kinetic. At times, he’d stretch his arms out in these subtle push-and-pull motions, like he was physically exchanging energy with the crowd, taking it in, sending it right back out. 

The songs I was most hyped for were “ 9 2  5” and “ Crazy People” and they did not disappoint. The energy he’d been gathering all night cracked open, spilling through the room in motion.

I spent part of the set up on the balcony, getting a bird’s-eye view of the crowd. From above, it looked like waves of heads. At first, I caught myself thinking that people could’ve been dancing more, there was so much rhythm in the air it almost demanded movement.

Then came “Crazy People.”

In the midst of strobe flashes and pulsing color strikes, Marcus paused right before launching into the track and asked for the house lights to be turned up. It wasn’t glamorous lighting, more the raw fluorescent kind that catches every expression. But it felt right for the moment, stripping the performance down to its core: no separation between artist and audience, just everyone moving together. When the beat dropped, “Crazy People” finally got the whole room moving, shoulders loosening, heads bobbing, the floor alive again. Hands down my favorite set of the night. 

 

Ending the night with “Hell of a Ride” and “The Passionate Ones” felt like the perfect exit that mirrored the journey of the evening. After the band left the stage, the crowd shouted demands for “one more song!” Brown appeared back with a smile and, clearly moved, but admitted they didn’t have another prepared. Instead, he passed the spotlight to bassist Carrington; who closed the show with a cover of “Find Me the Same,” while Marcus backed him on synths, layering hazy, dreamlike chords. 

After the applause died down, I lingered as long as I could, hoping for a few more moments with the band. I got my chance with David (on guitar and synth), who was soft-spoken and radiated a warm energy. He told me the tour was going great, then gave a shout-out to Minneapolis, specifically referencing the theater where Purple Rain was filmed. We talked about inspiration, how the album The Passionate Ones draws a bit from Prince’s spirit, especially the era of Prince and The Revolution. 

Leaving the El Rey stoked and pumped is when I spotted Louie Pastel and Felix from Paris Texas right outside the theater, another constant in my rotation. I couldn’t resist saying hi.

I ended up having the sweetest conversation with Felix, sharing one of my favorite deep cuts: the acoustic version of “BULLSEYE” on YouTube. My friends and I stumbled on it a few years ago, all COUCHED up, and must’ve rewatched it three times in a row, it’s still one of my favorite memories. I told him that, and he laughed, saying, “I don’t even sing.” Without thinking, I blurted out, “Shut the fu** up!” in the most endearing of course and luckily, he took it that way. We all laughed, exchanged names, and shook hands before parting ways. 

It felt like the perfect full-circle ending: music connecting strangers, artists, and fans in the same breath, still carrying that pulse from inside the theatre.