Fresh off a lengthy world tour, Interpol made their way back to New York for two hometown shows at Beacon Theatre on December 13 and 14. The band spent much of 2023 on the road, trekking across North America, Europe, and Australia before wrapping things up abroad with a big festival appearance at Maho Rasop in Thailand. After dazzling the New York faithful on the Upper West Side, Interpol head down I95 for three intimate sold out shows at D.C.s 9:30 Club next week.
Interpol released their seventh LP, The Other Side of Make-Believe, back in 2022 and have been touring regularly behind the record ever since. The band puts on a master class in staying true to their iconic sound while still pushing boundaries and making exciting new music that seamlessly expands their live palate. Songs from the last record stand toe to toe with the band’s timeless classics from their 2002 debut Turn On The Bright Lights. Kicking things off with the immortalized opening track “Untitled”, Interpol’s signature style reverberated around the iconic Beacon Theatre and ignited the crowd. As the boys moved through a career-spanning setlist, the crowd hung on every note, rarely returning to their seats until theater personnel eventually did turn on the bright lights.
Just ahead of the release of The Other Side Of Make Believe in 2022, Interpol hit Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre to preview the record. A year apart, the shows at Kings and Beacon had similar setlists yet were still surprising and attention grabbing without ever feeling dull. From the opening notes of “Untitled” to the final, soaring vocals of “PDA”, the crowd at Beacon was hanging on every note as if we were all experiencing an Interpol concert for the first time again. The magic behind a band like Interpol is always making fans feel like first timers, even after two decades of playing the hits.
Interpol have a special relationship with New York City. Not only is it the city the band was made in, but the city itself is their muse. Turn On The Bright Lights is a love affair with the New York, creating a cathartic experience for the band as well as the audience whenever they play the songs live. Whenever Interpol schedule dates around the city, we are drawn to another performance no matter how many times we have already had it.
After the shows in D.C., the band take a well-earned break before a busy festival season in 2024. Check out our photo gallery from Beacon Theatre below and head over to Interpol’s website for future tour dates.
During a famous MTV Unplugged performance, Kurt Cobain once sarcastically asked, “What are they tuning, a harp?” His tone somewhat mocking of the instrument, as if it had no place in his rock n’ roll world. For a long while, I may have thought the same thing too, but then a funny thing happened to me on Thursday, December 7.
That was the night I saw Mikaela Davis and Southern Star perform at Lark Hall in Albany for the first time. Armed with a six-foot-tall harp, a bold voice, and a certain element of mystique, the classically trained harp player-turned-folk rocker completely redefined everything I thought I knew about the instrument, simultaneously shattering whatever limitations my mind may have placed on it.
Mikaela Davis and Souther Star made their Lark Hall debut on December 7th, 2023.
Captivating the audience with a dreamy blend of psychedelic pop, driving folk rock, and a healthy dose of sonic improvisation, Mikaela Davis and Southern Star simply dazzled in Albany. A long-time believer in the group, Greg Bell of Guthrie Bell Productions has often said this is one of his favorite acts and has been bringing them to the Capital Region for years now. Regularly making stops at venues like The Hollow and Putnum Place, this night would mark their graduation to the historic room of Lark Hall. Delivering a dynamic, genre-bending performance full of emotion, beauty, and star-making energy, it was easy to see what all the hype over the talented harp-playing singer and her incredible band was all about.
Originally formed in Rochester, Mikaela Davis and Southern Star have been playing together for over a decade. Notably sharing the stage with the likes of Bob Weir and Phil Lesh, Bon Iver, and Circles Around the Sun, the group released their first full-length album as a band, And Southern Star, in August of this year and it’s already showing up on many of the “year’s best” lists. Focusing much of the show on its material, the multi-layered improvisation that also came from it was nothing short of a breath of fresh air and a major reason why they’ve been so warmly embraced by the extended jam band community.
Home in the Country: Mikaela Davis and Souther Star made themselves at home in Albany on 12/7/23.
Casually kicking things off with the melodic one-two punch of “Cinderella” and “In My Groove,” Mikaela Davis and Southern Star had Lark Hall’s undivided attention from the very start. Along with Davis, Southern Star also consists of the McCarthy brothers, Cian on guitar and sax and Shane on bass, Alex Cote on drums, and the talented Kurt Johnson on pedal and lap steel.
Keeping things going, the infectious single called “Home in the Country” was an early set highlight, as was watching Johnson’s incredible dexterity as he employed a litany of effects and knob turning to his pedal steel rig to create all kinds of subtle textures to accent Davis’s delectate harp in the most sophisticated way.
Kurt Johnson of Southern Star had his hands full on pedal and lap steel on 12/7/23.
After a bit of funky plucking on 2018’s “Get Gone”, “Far From You” would cross over into a more euphoric fairytale-type feel before landing on what would ultimately be the centerpiece of the show, an enchanting and transformative take on the Grateful Dead’s “Here Comes Sunshine.” Showcasing their propensity to improvise just as Garcia and company famously did, the stunning arrangement felt right at home at Lark Hall, a venue that recently expanded to include a Dead-inspired wine and coffee bar downstairs dubbed The Eleven. The lengthy rendition commanded your attention and was enough to win over any of the Heads in the audience who still weren’t sure of the greatness happening before our ears and eyes.
Here Comes Sunshine: Mikaela Davis and Southern Star wowed the Lark Hall crowd with their Grateful Dead cover on 12/7/23.
What started as a chilled-out version of “Leave it Alone” soon boiled over into blues-rock territory before seamlessly finding the opening chords of “Promise,” the second single from And Southern Star. With the crowd fully engaged and swaying to the up-tempo vibe and colorful riffs, the band’s synergy and skill were on full display. As the momentum continued to build, perhaps the most “rockin’” song of the night came next with a jammed-out version of “Don’t Stop Now,” featuring one of multi-instrumentalist Cian McCarthy’s best solos of the night.
Pausing to thank the audience for coming out and commenting on how nice it was to be playing Lark Hall for the first time, Mikaela then broke the news that she’s already looking forward to coming back in a few months with her pals (and fellow 2023 Lark Hall alumni), Circles Around the Sun.
Talking from the heart about how special it is to play music live, she also mentioned the best way to directly support touring artists is by picking up some of their merch at the gigs. Davis and Southern Star would then bring the main portion of the show to a close with a beautiful rendition of “Pure Divine Love,” before returning for a luscious encore of “Other Lover” from Mikaela’s debut 2018 album, Delivery.
After wrapping up their final show of the year with a hometown throwdown in Rochester, Mikaela Davis and Southern Star already have their sights firmly set on 2024. The band has just announced a full slate of new tour dates alongside psychedelic, Dead-inspired prog jammers Circles Around Sun. The collaborative tour is set to feature several New York dates with stops at Brooklyn Bowl, Ithaca’s Deep Dive, and Buffalo Iron Works.
Mikaela Davis | December 7, 2023 | Lark Hall | Albany, NY
Setlist: Cinderella > In My Groove, Home in the Country, Get Gone, Far From You, Here Comes Sunshine, Leave it Alone > Promise, Don’t Stop Now, Pure Divine Love
Returning to the vibrant heart of New York City, Stephen Sanchez brought his magnetic presence back to the city that never sleeps, echoing his last unforgettable performance at Irving Plaza in February. The anticipation hung in the air as fans, eagerly awaiting this reunion, gathered at Terminal 5.
Sanchez’s return was not just a concert; it was a homecoming, a testament to the enduring connection between the artist and the city that has played witness to his musical evolution. As the first notes reverberated through the venue, it was evident that this wasn’t merely a performance; it was a celebration of the artist’s journey, marked by growth, passion, and a profound connection with the diverse tapestry of New York’s music-loving community.
Stephen Sanchez’s concert at Terminal 5 unfolded as a captivating saga, weaving together the artist’s soulful melodies and a profound connection with his dedicated fanbase. Earlier in the day, Sanchez set the tone with a fan meetup and popup in Brooklyn, creating an intimate space for admirers to engage with the artist whose music had become the soundtrack to their lives.
As the night descended, Terminal 5 pulsed with anticipation. The setlist, featuring gems like “Something About Her” and “I Need You Most of All,” became a tapestry of emotions, each note echoing the artist’s journey. Sanchez’s stage presence was magnetic, drawing the audience into his world, especially the adoring fangirls who swooned with every nuanced movement. The unexpected covers of “Oh, Pretty Woman” and “Unchained Melody” showcased Sanchez’s ability to infuse timeless classics with his unique, soul-stirring style.
The concert reached its zenith during the spirited performance of “Shake,” where the venue echoed with the energy of both the artist and his ardent fans. The soulful ballad “Death of the Troubadour” revealed the depth of Sanchez’s songwriting, creating a poignant contrast in the midst of energetic numbers. The night concluded on an emotional crescendo with “Until I Found You,” leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of those who witnessed Sanchez’s musical brilliance. This wasn’t just a concert; it was an immersive experience, a testament to the profound connection between an artist and the community that cherishes his every note.
Setlist: Something About Her, Evangeline, I Need You Most of All, Only Girl, No One Knows, Doesn’t Do Me Any Good, Be More, [Oh, Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison cover)], High, Shake, Death of the Troubadour, Send My Heart With a Kiss, Howlin’ At Wolves, Unchained Melody (Hy Zaret & Alex North cover), The Pool, Until I Found You
The sounds of Mikaela Davis’ harp once again danced through Armory Square in Syracuse, as Davis and her band, Southern Star returned to Funk ’n Waffles for a performance on Friday, December 8. The band last played Syracuse in May, with a stunning three-show residency. Rochester natives Maybird opened the show.
2023 has been quite kind for Davis, the classically trained harpist from Rochester. Davis and her band released their first full length album as a unit, And Southern Star in June. They have played multiple show residencies in various cities through out New York State, which have often seen the shows sell out well in advance. The band recently wrapped up a west-coast tour which saw them opening for indie favorites, The Mountain Goats. They have come together for one final run through Upstate New York before the year closes.
Friday night opened with a set by Rochester natives Maybird. The psychedelic rockers delighted early arrivers to the club, with a forty minute set filled with spacey guitar riffs. Fans packed their way to the front and were quickly engrossed in the band’s psychedelic sounds.
After a brief stage change over, which saw Davis herself drag and tune her harp at center stage, Southern Star joined and the set was under way. Fans were immediately met with the hypnotic harp intro of “Cinderella”, the opening track on the band’s recent release. Slowly the remainder of the band would add their sounds to the mix. The band would follow with the appropriately named “In My Groove”, which had fans dancing and swaying in front of the stage.
While Mikaela Davis and her harp talents may be the primary draw for listeners, Southern Star proved to be anything but a backing band. Through out the set each band member would lay their musical finger prints on the tracks, transforming them from their studio form to live masterpieces. The band would regularly go on extended musical jam sessions during songs, paying homage to their musical inspirations such as Grateful Dead. Tracks like “Leave It” took on new life when paired with Kurt Johnson’s pedal steel, Cian McCarthy’s saxophone, while Shane McCarthy (bass guitar) and Alex Cote (percussion) kept pace. The song, after an extended jam would then flow seamlessly into the rocking “Promise”. It was just one of many moments during the set that showcased the band’s refreshing musical talents.
After a ninety minute set and a brief encore, the band would return to the stage with opener Maybird for an energetic rendition of “Other Lover”. The song would see band members taking turns on various pieces of percussion, including a colander. It was a fun way to wrap up the evening, but still showcase the many musical talents that graced the stage on this evening.
Dubstep DJ Mersiv stopped in Buffalo on Dec. 9 for the final stretch on his latest tour. The Town Ballroom was ready for their reunion with Mersiv since his last appearance there one year ago, and he did not disappoint.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
The openers were stacked with heavy bass and passion. Local artist Daggz kicked off the night with his experimental bass and was followed up by Heyz. Australian artist SIPPY had the crowd wooed with her heavy-hitting beats.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Mersiv finally took over the stage with a prompt that read, “Outside the Prescribed or Conventional Boundaries or Limits. Enjoy Your Journey Fellow Travelers.” And just like that the young producer took his audience on a journey through finding presence in sound, so much so that even the bass blew out the speakers for five minutes.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
He performed many tracks off of his 2023 album Out of Bounds including “I Like It When You Move” and “Top Floor.” He brings a meditative force through his live show. His use of fun visuals and insane energy make the positive atmosphere super contagious.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
The Mersiv Sound Project is the brainchild of Anderson Benoit Gallegos who has sought to spread healing energy through his sound, and fans would argue he does just that. His dark and loud sound pays homage to the duality of life. Both the highs and lows of what makes every human…human. It’s through these struggles that Gallegos shares we can rise from but never as ways to define us.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
The growing artist brings a particular energy into EDM through mysterious psychedelia. Mersiv played fun mixes throughout his set and performed his popular song with Wreckno, “Bounce.” Nothing quite brought the heat though until he played “Beautiful & Filthy.” The fans were seen head-banging throughout Buffalo’s Town Ballroom.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
If you missed out on this rad EDM night don’t worry we have a lot more in store to finish off the end of the year. DMVU and Toadface perform at Ironworks on December 16., and a special 360 show from Rusko is on December 31 that you do not want to miss! Get your tickets here.
Gus Dapperton’s performance at Webster Hall on November 30 was a captivating journey through a sonic tapestry, opening with a unique touch of vintage charm.
Gus Dapperton, the moniker of Brendan Rice, emerged as a defining force in indie-pop, forging a musical path that blends nostalgia with contemporary vibes. Hailing from Warwick, NY, Dapperton rose to prominence with his breakout single “Prune, You Talk Funny,” showcasing a distinctive sound marked by dreamy melodies and introspective lyrics. His debut album, Where Polly People Go to Read, exemplifies his genre-defying approach, capturing the essence of his journey as an artist who seamlessly navigates between past influences and modern expression. With each release, Gus Dapperton continues to evolve his musical narrative, creating a unique space in the indie-pop landscape.
As the band entered the stage, the crooning notes of “Fly Me to the Moon” reverberated from an old-timey speaker, setting an enchanting tone. From this moment, the audience was transported into the dreamy world that Dapperton effortlessly creates.
The setlist unfolded like a carefully crafted narrative, seamlessly blending fan favorites and surprises. “Give It To Me Straight” and “Prune, You Talk Funny” showcased Dapperton’s signature blend of indie pop and funk-infused beats, keeping the crowd in a perpetual state of dance. The playful Drake-infused intro to “My Favorite Fish” added an unexpected twist, revealing the artist’s willingness to experiment within his established sound.
Throughout the performance, Dapperton’s stage presence was magnetic, engaging the audience with every beat. The cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire” demonstrated not only his vocal versatility but also his ability to reinterpret classics. A mysterious interlude came in the form of “Flatline,” injecting an element of suspense that kept the audience hanging onto each note.
The energy reached its zenith during the encore, featuring “Horizons” and a lively rendition of “Twist and Shout.” Dapperton’s ability to connect with the audience and curate a setlist that seamlessly blended genres left concertgoers with a euphoric afterglow. The night stood as a testament to Dapperton’s artistry and showmanship, making it a performance to be remembered.
Setlist: Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words), Sunset, Palms, Give It To Me Straight, Ditch, [Prune, You Talk Funny], My Favorite Fish (With ‘In My Feelings’ by Drake intro), Medicine, [Gum, Toe and Sole], I’m Just Snacking, I’m on Fire (Bruce Springsteen cover), Flatline (Mystery song), First Aid, Midnight Train, Don’t Trust Me (3OH!3 cover), Fill Me Up Anthem, Wet Cement, Don’t Let Me Down, Post Humorous
Encore: Horizons, Twist and Shout (The Top Notes cover)
Local native Mariel Loveland, better known by her stage moniker Best Ex, performed an intimate show this past Sunday evening (December 10) at Heaven Can Wait in the East Village, a neighborhood with rich musical history. Joined by Matthew Florio, who got his start with Loveland as her touring guitarist in 2017, the duo delivered a ten song, 35-minute set chock-full of indie pop melodies.
Bathed in red strobe lights and accompanied by drum and keyboard backing tracks, Best Ex’s set featured numbers gifted from Loveland’s debut LP (With a Smile, Iodine Recordings) released this past October, to high acclaim. Outliers included the title track from Loveland’s second EP titled Good At Feeling Bad (No Sleep Records, 2020), an anthemic breakup song with a chorus begging to be sung along to, and “Lemons,” a song that finds Loveland drunk in a Penn Station bathroom contemplating life and loneliness at 3:00 am.
Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
Previously fronting Candy Hearts, which she co-founded in 2009 and served as primary songwriter, Loveland shed the pop punk genre and launched Best Ex, an offshoot project influenced by a calling to pop and pulsating club beats. During the last six years of her solo endeavor, Loveland has often taken a sarcastic, introspective look at the world around her, outwardly speaking about the challenges of being a woman in today’s music industry.
Admittedly talking more than she usually does during a live show, it was wonderful to hear what Loveland’s songs mean to her firsthand, and the story behind each one. An already emotional set reached its pinnacle with the evening’s penultimate number “Stay With Me,” which saw Florio exit the stage for a few minutes as Loveland presented an acoustic rendering of said tune about struggling with anxiety and the fear of it being a burden on the one you love.
Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
The next holiday show for Best Ex is a gig at Alchemy in Providence, Rhode Island on December 16. If you are a fan of cynical breakup jams cloaked with fuzzy synths and dreamy guitar riffs – aren’t we all? – be sure to keep Best Ex on your radar for upcoming show announcements in 2024.
Best Ex – Heaven Can Wait, East Village, NYC – December 10, 2023
Setlist: With a Smile > Good At Feeling Bad > Tell Your Friends > Lemons > Give Me a Break > Salt On Skin > Die For You > I Promise to Ruin Your Life > Stay With Me > The End
2023 has been a busy year for Mikaela Davis and Southern Star. It all started in January with two three-show residencies in Rochester and Woodstock that had the band playing one set of originals and one set of themed Grateful Dead material. In the band’s home base of Rochester, the three shows sold out in advance at the living-room-intimate Abilene. The band then took the show’s concept on the road, hitting venues along the eastern seaboard and even more multi-show residencies across upstate New York. They would continue to tour hard throughout the year as headliners, openers, and a part various festival lineups. They also released their first album as a band late in the summer.
They closed out the year with a short run of shows with their old friends Maybird, culminating where the year, and the band began, back in Rochester. This time at the brand new venue, Essex, which is younger than even their new album. The space holds roughly ten times what Abilene can, and was nearly full, so the hard work paid off with a bigger fanbase. Davis declared it the biggest headlining show they’ve ever played, and the exchange of energy from the crowd to the stage and back was palpable.
A Brian Blatt liquid light show bathed the stage in slow oozing organic forms throughout the night. From the get go, it matched and complimented the music perfectly. The band was in no rush with a spacey intro to the show opening “Cinderella.” The ensuing “In My Groove” likewise got going with spacey looping. “Get Gone” also got front-loaded with a short jam, this one groovier, almost Dead-like. Post-verses, it showcased one of the bands many strengths as Davis’ harp led the way, interweaving brilliantly with Cian McCarthy and Kurt Johnson’s guitars and Shane McCarthy’s bass.
Languid and lovely, “The Pearl,” featured a slowly unfolding gorgeous improvisation that had all five members contributing an interlocking piece of the whole. A rock band led by a harp is unique in-and-of-itself, but add in a pedal steel and a sax-playing guitarist, and a penchant for turning pretty things into down and dirty jams, and Southern Star is a one-of-a-kind marvel. Even when they lean into familiar influences, they’re approached from a new-to-the-world angle. No one is doing this, sounding like that.
“Leave It Alone” let loose with this uniqueness. A lengthy guitar choogle dissolved into spacey noodling. Davis grabbed the reins and the band slowly crystallized around her flourishing harp. Cian McCarthy switched to his sax and the music took a turn into avant-garde jazz, reaching into searing cosmic domains. When McCarthy got back on his guitar, the jazz tenor remained, advancing to a 70’s style fusion for a short spurt. His brother pounded a repetitive theme into submission and eventually the rest of the band followed as they deftly drifted into “Promise.” The extraordinary sequence highlighted the growth a year on the road as provided.
Later, “Don’t Stop Now,” provided more groundwork from which they could showcase their multi-faceted approach. Davis answered the age-old question, “Can a harp choogle?”, with a big jam out of the gates, which ceded to guitar and then Johnson’s electric lap steel and eventually back to McCarthy on sax. They went deep into a sparse and chunky space which would slip into the psychedelic “Pure Divine Love.”
The show closed out with “Other Lover,” with the opening band Maybird out in full, each on a different piece of percussion, from the traditional congas to the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink variety (literally) like a metal colander. Maybird, another Rochester band, appropriately joined Mikaela Davis on her first tour. But more than that, Kurt Johnson was an original member of Maybird and Shane McCarthy is frequently playing bass for them. Davis and Josh Netsky frequently collaborated in various projects before Maybird or Southern Star were even conceived. So it was an appropriate end-of-the-year hometown billing for sure.
The ragtag group of percussionists would be back for the encore, along with Overhand Sam on guitar as the band ripped a celebratory version of “After Midnight” played just before 11pm. And now we wait to see what 2024 has in store for Mikaela Davis and Southern Star. Of course we know it will start with a co-headlining tour with Circles Around the Sun, so check that out if they’re heading your way.
Maybird opened with a solid 45 minutes overview of their strengths, including some of their oldest material and some of their newest. “Open Your Eyes” appropriately opened up into a quality psychedelic workout, with guitarist Overhand Sam and keyboardist Sam Hirsch combining into a fuzzed-up mash.
Shane McCarthy was pulling double-duty, holding down the bass for both bands, wearing the appropriate band tee for each set. Brother Cian and Kurt Johnson joined in on the fun during the band’s namesake “Maybird.” With Johnson returning to his former band, and McCarthy on sax, the band was truly at full power. The denser their sound gets the better, and that played out perfectly during the slow ferociousness of “Maybird.” The pair stayed on board for the following “Gonna Lose Your Mind,” and Johnson remained for the rest of the set. He provided some just-like-the-old-days moments during “Turning Into Water” and “Call You Mine.”
It was a great night to celebrate Rochester music, past and future, at Essex with Maybird and Mikaela Davis and Southern Star.
Setlists
Mikaela Davis and Southern Star: Cinderella, In My Groove, Home in the Country, Get Gone, The Pearl, Far From You, Leave It Alone, Promise, Don’t Stop Now, Pure Divine Love, Other Lover*
Encore: After Midnight** * with Maybird on various percussion ** with Sam Snyder on guitar, Maybird on percussion
Maybird: Keep In Line, Don’t Keep Me Around, Open Your Eyes, Lost In Wonderland, Maybird*, Gonna Lose Your Mind*, Turning Into Water**, Call You Mine*** * with Cian McCarthy on sax, Kurt Johnson on pedal steel/lap steel ** with Kurt Johnson on guitar *** with Kurt Johnson on lap steel
Lespecial’s Odd Times Tour stopped in to play Buffalo Iron Works Dec 06, 2023 to an eager and packed house. Opening for Lespecial this night and next on tour is Grub. Grub, a Niagara Falls based band are well known to the Western New York music scene and beyond for their high energy flowing Psych Rock jams.
Grub took to the stage and wasted no time jumping right into their set. The spacy, angelic, bass thumping, drum driving songs filled the room to a very engaged crowd all night from the very first song on. There is no surprise why this band has a continually growing fan base.
The trio is made up of Zack Tilton – Guitar/Vocals/Synth/Samples, Nick Woodcock – Bass/Vocals/Synth, and Ryan Henderson – Drums/Samples.
Lespecial are no strangers bringing the house down with their building shaking, body pounding and air ripping sound. And that’s exactly what they did all night. Right from the start they came out hard and fast. The crowd took notice and kept right up with them dancing and cheering. Some almost seemingly ready to mosh with the energy so high.
This prog-tronic Power Trio is made up of Luke Bemand – Bass/Synth/Percussion/Vocals. Jonathan Grusauskas – Guitar/Synth/Sampler/Percussion/Vocals. Rory Dolan – Drums/Sampler/Percussion/Vocals
Setlist: Lungs of the Planet, Snells Fleet, Jackwise, Fear the Djinn, Repeater, Machine Elf, Homieverse, Whats Crappenin’, DGH II (FT Noah Fense), What’s the Use (FT Noah Fense), Fruit Wolf Dance, I Might Be Wrong, Rays, Onlookers, Chird, Chromakey, The Vessel, They Live Encore: Tonberry
The Screaming Orphans transformed The Roslyn Cellar into their living room on Sunday, December 3, inviting audience members into their family’s Christmas celebrations during their Mini Christmas Tour.
The Diver sisters, from left to right, Angela, Joan, Gráinne, and Marie Thérèse, performing at The Roslyn Cellar at 3:00 pm on December 3 as part of their Mini Christmas Tour.
The Screaming Orphans consist of the Diver sisters, Angela (bass, violin and vocals), Joan (drums and vocals), Gráinne (guitarist and vocals), and Marie Thérèse (keys, accordion, and vocals). The four sisters from Donegal aim to have their familiar bond transpire within audience members during performances.
“For a lot of our shows, we want people to feel like they’re in our sitting room. Or we’re in the house or kitchen and just having a sing-song,” guitarist Gráinne stated.
Within minutes of their performance, The Roslyn Cellar was quickly transformed into the Diver sisters’ living room. After their first song, a cover of “Merry Christmas Everyone,” the sisters informed the audience that they bought their sparkly holiday / concert attire for a steal at just $14.99 from Marshalls! The Screaming Orphans transformed into your best friend letting you in on the latest holiday deals.
For a lot of our shows, we want people to feel like they’re in our sitting room.
Or we’re in the house or kitchen and just having a sing-song
Gráinne Diver, guitarist and vocalist of Screaming Orphans
In the true fashion of Christmas, the Screaming Orphans continued to tell stories and reminisce throughout the afternoon performance. Guitarist Gráinne recollected on when her family would drive down to Germany for Christmas. On one particular Christmas, they drove from Germany to Austria, to the place where Silent Night was written. While Gráinne joked about how silly the journey was, given they drove in the snow without snow tires and that all the sisters wore ankle socks instead of boots in the freezing cold, she also noted the divine beauty of it all.
The revered beauty of the site transpired in the sister’s cover of “Silent Night.” Their haunting harmonies melted together into a wintery vortex’s siren call. The harmonies amplified when they switched from English to German midway through the song, harking back to the birthplace of the lyrics.
The sisters’ signature harmonies were truly highlighted in the slower, stripped back covers of the night. Songs like “O Holy Night” and “That Night in Bethlehem,” which was sung in Irish Gaelic, showcased the sister’s range of harmonies.
Angela (left) and Joan (right) Diver singing their rendition of The Turtles “Happy Together,” which is featured on the Screaming Orphans’s 2019 album Life in a Carnival.
But like all great Christmas parties, there also had to be some good craic. Songs like “Miss Fogarty’s Christmas Cake,” a song describing a horrific fruit cake that is sure to work up a fine stomach ache, resulted in cackling from the crowd. Lyrics weren’t the only culprit of good craic on December 3 though. So were the Screaming Orphans’s unique take on classic Christmas carols. Synthesizer, for instance, was added to the start of “We Three Kings.” The result was a time-traveling song that sounded futuristic yet nostalgic all at once.
The Screaming Orphans’s signature sound, melodic old-school pop with heavy folk influences, radiates throughout their cover of “We Three Kings.” Their signature sound allows the Screaming Orphans to reinvent these Christmas classics as well as to create new ones. The sisters played original songs “Song We Used to Sing” and “Bells,” the later of which is featured on their 2021 Happy Christmas Vol. 1 album.
The Screaming Orphans hinted at new original songs as well as a cover of “Christmas Wrapping” to appear on their Happy Christmas Vol. 2 album. The second volume is rumored to be released next December. Gráinne stated she hopes there will be not only a volume two but a volume three, four, and five! “We fully intend to do more,” she stated.
To close out their set, The Screaming Orphans kicked it into high-gear with a Christmas Eve reel. The energy continued and skyrocketed during their encore, which included their renditions of “Happy Together” and “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).” Notably the chorus of “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles” was changed from “Da d-da da” to “Shot of Vodka.” Here, the gears shifted to a full-blown folk rock concert Drummer Joan was throwing her long blonde hair from side to side as she belted out the lyrics with unparalleled passion. One might have easily forgotten they were at a Christmas concert and jumped straight to St. Patrick’s Day. The result, a standing ovation.
Gráinne (left) and Marie Thérèse Diver (right) perform their encore set, which consists of their covers of “Happy Together” and “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).”
The stormy Irish weather may have followed the Screaming Orphans from Donegal to The Roslyn Center in New York, but the rain certainly did not damper their spirits. Respite from the storm was found in their Christmas carols as the sisters invited audience members into their home.
The Screaming Orphans will be back at The Roslyn Center, located at 19 Bryant Avenue, Roslyn. They’ll return in March for St. Patrick’s Day. The exact date of their concert at The Roslyn Center is scheduled to be announced soon. To view tickets for their other tour dates, click here. Until then, fans can check out the sisters’ recent album Paper Daises, which was released this past August.
Setlist: Merry Christmas Everybody, Blue Christmas, Wishing You a Merry Christmas, O Holy Night, Christmas Time is Here, Jingle Bells, Miss Fogarty’s Christmas Cake, Ho Ho Ho, O Come O Come Emmanuel, Song We Used to Sing, Bells, That Night in Behtlehem, Happy XMas (War is Over), We Three Kings, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, Frosty the Snowman, Silent Night, Sleigh, Fleiz Navidad, Fairytale of New York, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Christmas Eve Reel
