Live: Christian French is in The Space Between
Celebrating his 2023 EP, singer-songwriter Christian French hit up NYC’s Webster Hall last week on The Space Between Tour.
French, who released his first song in 2016, has come a long way from where he started. From his first EDM-tinged pop singles to his latest release, French has explored a variety of new sounds and subject matter. Evolving over the years on a musical journey, French has created a sound that feels entirely his.
Surf Curse Has a “Magic Hour” in Brooklyn
“Magic Hour is our excitement about rock music and being in a band,” says Jacob Rubeck. “This album is the excitement of starting something that we all can feel good about with each other, but also progressing as creative people and throwing in that magic. We’re feeling that magic, what’s brewing in the air and what’s existing in what we’re doing together.”
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.
Live: Rebounder Has Us Wanting More at Bowery Ballroom
Adorned in matching button-downs and black pants, the band stood proudly in front of their giant projected Rebounder sign. A neon "I heart NYC" sign stage emphasized their love and connection to the city.
The band's camaraderie illuminated the stage, as their connection with each other translated into an electrifying atmosphere. They engaged intimately with the audience, bringing them closer together through the power of music.
beabadoobee Says That’s “the way things go”
Today, beabadoobee finally dropped the long-teased-on-TikTok “the way things go.” The cute but cutting song sees Bea accepting that when a relationship falls apart.
Accompanied by a Jacob Erland-directed music video, a cast of ballerinas dance around Bea in an ornate Victorian-era parlor room featuring candelabras, gilded frames, flowers, oil paintings, and dollhouses, adding to the classical sense the song invokes. It feels like a classic acoustic ballad reimagined for the modern world with a sense of intimacy and nostalgic melodies reminiscent of the 1960s.
Jonah Kagen Shares “The Roads”
"'The Roads’ is one of those songs I feel like I’ve been working toward for so long,” Jonah writes. “It’s the culmination of so much heartbreak, so much growing up, and so much learning. Some of my favorite lyrics and sounds I’ve ever created are in this song, and I think the story speaks for itself—I hope you can feel the years of emotion and human experience pouring out in it.”
Live: Wallice is Mr Big Shot
Wallice brought her glitzy, angsty, bedroom hooks to NYC’s Bowery Ballroom last week to captivate the crowd with her infectious melodies and magnetic presence.
Lindsey Lomis "Universe" Is One You Won't Want To Leave
The Nashville singer released her fourth EP entitled Universe this past year with the five-track EP that brings soul, jazz, and rock inspirations to the pop world. Proving she’s a powerhouse, Universe shows off Lomis’ versatile vocal range, incredible riffs, and heartfelt lyrics that have become her trademark.
Live: Paris Paloma Brings “the fruits” of Her “labour” to Brooklyn
Channeling the feminine experience in her songwriting through her haunting sound and poetic lyricism, U.K. singer Paris Paloma ranges from tender and heartbreaking to empowered and vengeful.
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.
The Maine Gives a Glimpse at Ninth Album with “blame” and “how to exit a room”
Not surprisingly, their latest dual single release has been on repeat since it dropped. “blame” and “how to exit a room” provide a tantalizing glimpse at what’s to come from the band’s ninth album. Accompanying the release of “blame” is a captivating music video directed by Guadalupe Bustos and filmed in the band’s hometown of Phoenix.
Live: Leith Ross Brings Intimate Queer Joy to BK
Teasing the crowd by saying, “This is the last song,” Ross quickly added, “with the band.” Acknowledging how silly encores are, Ross joked about how everyone has to pretend to be surprised when they leave and return again. Telling everyone to “scream if you’re gay,” the venue erupted in screams as Ross and the band launched into "(You) on My Arm.”
A fan favorite, it was heartwarming to see everyone sing and dance together to the upbeat song. A fan project had everyone holding up their phone flashlights, lighting the venue with colored hearts. As the track faded out, Ross said, “Happy Pride." I was experiencing some queer joy there.”
Live: Allison Ponthier Is NYC’s Queer Cowboy Star
Wearing an open pinstriped blazer over a fishnet top with baggy leather pants and Doc Martens, Ponthier jokingly said, “You guys see how I’m dressed. I’m a lesbian.” Embracing herself as a queer artist, Ponthier writes about her experiences with queerness and reassessing oneself. Her debut single, “Cowboy”, is a soothing track that charts the singer’s journey with queerness. “It took New York to make me a cowboy,” opens the track. “Born from the beige/These feelings made me feel strange/A neon sign/Not the only one of my kind” heralds in a climactic bridge and outro, leaving us in a place of discovery and self-acceptance.
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: joan Brings “superglue” to BK
Three years in the making, joan's debut album "superglue" was well worth the wait.
The album showcases the duo at their most personal and heartfelt with its thirteen vulnerable and emotional tracks. "superglue" represents a significant transformation for the band, both in their career and personal lives. Influenced by their recent transitions into fatherhood, the songs on "superglue" are meaningful and honest.
Wallice Yearns on “Loser at Best”
Wallice's latest single, "Loser at Best," offers a compelling blend of 90's pop-punk nostalgia with a contemporary twist and pop flair. The track serves as a preview of her upcoming EP, Mr. Big Shot, out June 23rd via Dirty Hit. Following the EP's lead single, "Best Friend," Wallice showcases her unique musical style, characterized by rock-infused guitar melodies fused with a pop sensibility.