Live: BoyWithUke Unmasks Emotions in NYC
With a set list full of singles and songs from his Serotonin Dreams and 2021 album Fever Dreams, the crowd sang along to every word. Not only did BoyWithUke put on a killer performance, but he also took time to connect with his fans. Pulling out a toy fishing rod, the singer “reeled” in two fans from the crowd to join him on stage and chat with them for a moment. From a look around the venue, it was evident that BoyWithUke inspires many young fans with their copycat masks and ukuleles. One fan managed to get his uke autographed and dedicated to him as his mom shouted that he was pursuing music as well.
Live: David Kushner Brings Daylight to NYC
David Kushner was a bright ray of daylight at Webster Hall in NYC this past week. Raised in Chicago, the singer-songwriter began releasing music in 2022 and quickly gained success with his soulful songs and rich voice. Kushner’s first two singles, “Miserable Man” and “Mr. Forgettable,” set him on a path to success with both songs going viral and gaining him millions of followers and a large fanbase. Riding that momentum, 2023 saw Kushner skyrocket with his hit song “Daylight.”
Catch him on his Daylight Tour 2.0.
Live: Ethan Tasch Hits Brooklyn With "Got Him!"
Since 2020, Ethan Tasch has been captivating audiences with his indie folk sound. 2023 saw the release of his debut album Got Him! which charts his journey of being a musician. From its opening track to its last, the album chronicles Tasch's evolution from feeling lost to taking on the world. Tasch took Got Him! to Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn on his tour.
Live: No Suits Bring Their No-Suits Groove to Brooklyn
“For us no suits is about creating our own lane and rejecting the idea of conformity. We have nothing against suits as an article of clothing, but our philosophy is to not follow the suit mentality.” This is the ethos of No Suits.
Made up of Max Pierro, Sajan Sanghvi, and Reed Hallums, No Suits lies somewhere in the middle of the spectrum between band and production group. Seamlessly mixing psychedelic rock with rap and hip hop, No Suits’ sound is straight up groovy.
Everything is Ayokay at Elsewhere
Ayokay brought magic to Elsewhere in Brooklyn this week with his dreamy tracks. Originally meant to be hosted on Elsewhere's rooftop, the show was moved indoors due to the weather. Despite the change in scenery from sunset city views to club lights in a dark room, the audience's positive energy kept it feeling like a breezy summer day.
Catie Turner Performs Comedy & Tragedy: Act 1
Catie Turner is skilled at turning her personal songwriting into a universal experience, letting her situation parallel listeners' lives. Comedy & Tragedy: Act 1 is the singer’s latest release, having come out earlier this month. To celebrate the release, Turner is currently on a US tour. I caught her at her stop in Brooklyn, NY.
Live: Waterparks Brings The Property Tour to NYC
With five studio albums in their discography, Waterparks managed to include songs from each album. Typically, earlier songs get dropped from a set list in a touring cycle in favor of the new songs. However, Waterparks kept the throwbacks "Royal" and “Rare.” From older songs to 8 out of the 11 tracks appearing on their latest album Intellectual Property, there was something for everyone.
Live: Walter Etc. in Brooklyn
A mix of folk, punk, rock, Walter Etc. describes their music as “indie” for the sake of simplicity, but their sound really encompasses a little bit of everything. What draws people in are the lyrics. With the years of material that Walter Etc. has put out, their set list had songs stretching back to their Walter Mitty and His Makeshift Orchestra days. Despite switching between older and newer songs, fans in the audience knew every word.
Live: Joywave Express Wash Tour Wraps Up in NYC
Many albums and years later, present-day had Joywave bringing its Express Wash tour to Racket in NYC on Tuesday night. The result was a high-energy, visually engaging set that showcased the band’s versatility and love of sonic exploration.
Live: Kinneret Brings All That I Know to Brooklyn
A unique blend of electronic, indie, and trap, Kinneret calls her music “psychedelic indie space cowgirl." Shimmery synths, 808s, and trap beats are all staples in her production. With lyrics that focus on inclusivity and positivity riding on top of a kaleidoscopic experimental instrument, Kinneret's music takes you out of this world.
Live: Shygirl in NYC
Three nights at Webster Hall in NYC show that people can’t get enough of 29-year-old South London artist Shygirl. While making music since 2016, Blane Muise has been taking over playlists with her 2022 debut album Nymph. With a dusky voice to die for, extraordinary production, and sexy lyricism, it’s no surprise this artist is taking the world by storm.
Lostboycrow Brings Indie Pop to NYC
Taking to the stage in his yellow hi-tops and custom guitar strap on his yellow Telecaster, Lostboycrow looks every bit like an indie pop musician.
Setting the tone for the night, “Indie Rock” opened the set before moving into the iconic 2017 single “Strawberry Sunscreen.” Singles from the years filled the middle of the setlist before crowd favorite “Devil’s in the Backseat.” The volume in the room increased tenfold for the hit.
More songs from the Indie Pop album filled the second half of the setlist before ending with “Chewed Up”.
Attic Rock: Arcy Drive Goes From Playing Their Attic to Selling Out Shows on “The Stattic Tour”
Arcy Drive looked comfortable on stage, standing beneath a banner of their band name. It took me a few songs to realize why they seemed so casual. The group was all missing socks and shoes. A bold move to stand barefoot on venue floors, but I support it.
Although Arcy Drive was playing in a packed venue, the group's friendly chemistry onstage made it feel like watching a backyard concert. With their attic rock sound, Arcy Drive embodies warm nostalgia with their raw passion. Their shows are electric and exciting, and I can’t get enough.
Softcult Takes U.S. Headlining Tour
Inspired by the riot grrl movement, Softcult combines grunge, shoegaze, and dream-pop influences to create music with a message and sound that they bill as "music for mall goths." Channeling a rebellious spirit, abuse, misogyny, and mental health are all front and center on their tracks.
"only wanna dance" with almost monday on a monday
Taking the stage, almost monday kicked off their set with “Broken People” from their 2020 EP. The energy was through the roof as the band cycled through their hits. Included in the setlist was “Parking Lot View”, “This is Growing Up”, “Sun Keeps On Shining”, and more. A cover of the iconic “What I Like About You” was also thrown in.
Kid Sistr @ Mercury Lounge
Founded in college, the all-female trio consists of Sabel on guitar, Sara Keden on bass, and Rebecca Webster on drums. Their sound is a fusion of bubblegum pop, 2000s alt-rock, and 1980s new wave. Kid Sistr's name and debut single "Little Sister Song" came from the fact that all members are the oldest in their all-sister families.
Holly Humberstone Kicks Off “Sleep Tight” Tour at Webster Hall
Holly Humberstone kicked off her "Sleep Tight" tour with a sold out night in NYC. The English singer recently released her debut album “Can You Afford To Lose Me?” this past month and is bringing the songs to life on tour.
lovelytheband Plays It Free
Lovelytheband roared onto the stage “loneliness for love” off their 2020 album Conversations With Myself. Compared to Sipper, these guys were loud! The stage presence was phenomenal. During multiple songs, frontman Mitchy Collins came down to run alongside the barricade. We had a nice little face to face second.
Fletcher, Fletcher, Fletcher
Plans have a funny way of shifting on you. A few of my friends like Fletcher’s music as well, so when tickets first went up, I purchased two with the idea that one of my friends would come with me. As time went on, excuses happened. School, work, not interested. So I sold my second ticket and prepared to fly solo for this concert (as I usually do). While I was prepared to be all by my lonesome amidst the couples, I saw that an old acquaintance of mine had scored a ticket the day before. I messaged her and boom! I had a concert buddy. The universe said one concert buddy is not enough! As luck would have it, we picked up another person in line. By the time I entered the doors of Webster Hall, I was part of a trio.
Freezing Resale Pays Off: Gracie Abrams Concert
Finding tickets to see Gracie Abrams on 2/15/2022 was not an easy feat. Tickets had sold out the first day, but I was out there scouring the internet trying to find a good deal. Ideally, I would’ve gone to the Valentine’s Day show, but alas school schedules do not care about your concert plans.