Author: Ana Medvedeva

Snail Mail Perseveres at Brooklyn Mirage

Snail Mail opened up a highly anticipated show at The Brooklyn Mirage on Oct. 3. The band, an indie rock project started by Lindsey Jordan, opened for the trilogy of Baltimore-based acts. The group warmed up the crowd for JPEGMAFIA and the main act, hardcore band Turnstile.

As the remnants of Hurricane Ian descended upon the open-air venue, a sizable crowd huddled together to keep warm. Decked out in ponchos and raincoats, the crowd didn’t let the bad weather deter them from Snail Mail’s set.

In an effort to preserve the equipment on stage, the band was forced to perform under tents. Though the circumstances were far from ideal, they didn’t let the environment affect the quality of the performance.

Snail Mail performed a carefully curated mix of songs, including “Pristine” and “Heat Wave,” two standouts from their first album, Lush. The band mixed in many songs from their critically acclaimed sophomore album, Valentine, most notably performing “Valentine” and “Ben Franklin.:

Valentine is the highly anticipated follow-up to 2018’s Lush, which Jordan released at just 17 years old. Now at 22, Jordan has gained much more life experience. She’s able to dive deeply into life-altering experiences, ranging from navigating life-altering success, a painful breakup, and 6 weeks in treatment.

We look forward to Snail Mail’s continued growth as the band matures and hope that the next time they perform in New York, they’ll be able to do so without the constriction of a tent. Listen to our favorite song off of Valentine, “Ben Franklin” here and enjoy the photo recap of the show below.

October 6, 2022
In Focus: mxmtoon performs for two nights at Webster Hall

Brooklyn-based artist mxmtoon performed two back-to-back shows at Webster Hall on June 7 and 8. A self-proclaimed “emo girl with a ukelele”, the 21-year-old expertly conducted a show that swung between positivity and embracing being sad.

A crowd full of teenagers loudly sang along to the pre-show playlist, which was filled with Pheobe Bridgers and Mitski tracks. As the lights died down, the crowd erupted in cheers. The artist (who also goes by Maia), sauntered onto the stage with a giant grin.

“You guys are LOUD…I could hear you singing along backstage” she exclaimed with a giggle.

As the audience laughed, the opening chords of “falling for u” rung out and the show began. Though Maia is a young artist, she commands the stage with authority. She fully lost herself in dance during several moments of the set, most notably during her third song “sad disco”.

The artist tactfully interspersed short stories as a way to prime the audience for shifts in energy. mxmtoon took the time to connect with her audience whilst explaining the meanings behind her songs, which ranged from experiencing depression to wanting to write a song featuring her mother and father.

A moment that particularly stood out was when the artist spotted a pride flag in the audience. Calling attention to the flag, Maia told the audience how she came to realize that she was bi. As she wrapped up her coming-out story, she fervently encouraged the crowd to embrace their authentic selves. The crowd instantly began cheering and jumping with happiness as the artist wished them a happy pride month, which was one of the many touching moments throughout her set.

mxmtoon released her new album, rising, on May 20. The album has several standout singles, such as “Mona Lisa“. rising has received praise from major outlets such as Alternative Press, Billboard, and Uproxx.

June 11, 2022
Breakout Star ASTN Shines At His First NY Headline Show

R&B singer and producer, ASTN performed his first NY headline show at Baby’s All Right on Thursday, May 5th.

If you’ve ever opened up Tiktok, you’ve probably heard ASTN’s buttery voice. The 23-year-old’s cover of Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever” exploded on the platform in 2021. With over 100 million views, users enjoy his soothing voice in a wide variety of videos.

Though the artist only signed to Warner Records in January of this year, his stage presence reflects that of an artist with years of experience under their belt.

Performing to a giddy crowd on a warm Thursday night in Brooklyn, ASTN opened up his act with “Butterflies.” After a brief technical difficulty where the sound cut out during the intro, he excitedly ran onto the stage seemingly unphased.

As the show progressed, ASTN became even more confident on stage. The musician artfully mixed together slower tempo songs such as “You’re Almost There” with upbeat numbers like “LA DON’T LOOK GOOD ON U” and began playfully interacting with the crowd.

The artist’s exuberant audience came prepared with a variety of gifts. The artist received a necklace, flowers (artfully passed to him during the opening line of his song “Flowers”), and a painting.

A highlight of the night was ASTN’s cover of Frank Ocean’s “Self Control”. With the opening chords filling the room, the artist cheekily introduced the song as a cover the audience may know. The crowd instantly began crooning along and joined him in a sing-along of the well-loved outro of the song.

ASTN’s path towards superstardom seems inevitable. Though he is just starting his career, his confidence, charm, and devoted audience create the perfect formula for success.

Stream his latest EP You’re Almost There here and check out our photo recap of the Baby’s All Right show below.

May 8, 2022