Ezra Furman Makes a Racket with Live Performance
On Tuesday night at Racket NYC, I found myself amidst a diverse crowd of concertgoers. Unlike typical concert crowds, where people often dress to align with the artist or genre and are usually dominated by a particular gender, this crowd was unique.
The crowd around me is an even split of genders with everyone dressed in their own style. In the sea of denim and flannel, a shock of pink hair catches my eye. There are pride and pronoun pins sprinkled on some clothes, band tees, button-downs, and even corporate job attire. Age isn’t a factor either, with plenty of X’ed-out hands reflecting an under-21 status blending in with older folks who can't figure out how to turn the flashlight off on their phone.
This diverse crowd reflected Ezra Furman's reach, who has been releasing music for over a decade, both as a solo artist and in a band. There are numerous albums under her name, including Netflix's Sex Education soundtrack. Furman's latest release is the 2022 album All of Us Flames.
The crowd hushes as Ezra takes the stage dressed in a black dress, Doc Martens, and a leather jacket that is thrown to the side later. Drums, bass, keys, and guitar back Ezra as she kicks off the night with “Train Comes Through”. The set list consisted of material that spans the years of Furman's career. From 2015’s “Haunted Head” to the latest songs from All of Us Flames, the crowd knew them all.
Fiery and charismatic, you can feel Furman's passion bleeding through the music. The seed of personal experience and emotional truth that she plants in her music makes Furman a conduit for connection. Her willingness to put herself out there gives a sense of solidarity unmatched by others. Furman's rock and roll messages about society are personal to her as a trans woman. For anyone who has felt like an outsider, Ezra Furman's songs are a message of truth.
The crowd reflected Furman's convictions as they pressed against the stage, cheering her on. Despite playing over 20 songs in an hour and a half, Furman never ran out of energy, switching between playing guitar and dancing across the stage. It's an intense performance as she fervidly sings the lyrics to her songs.
