NYS Music 2023

Tag: alternative

  • The Murder Capital Deliver Raw and Dynamic Performance in Brooklyn

    Irish post-punk group, The Murder Capital, hailing from Dublin, performed at Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg on Tuesday, March 28th.

    The Murder Capital Live at The Music Hall of Williamsburg
    The Murder Capital, 2023 Photo by Parker Alexander

    Brooklyn was the last stop on the band’s debut North American tour before it was shuttered in early 2020, only performing twice. Since then, they have played all across Europe and the UK, finally making their way back overseas this month, hot off the release of their self-released (on Human Season Records) second album, Gigi’s Recovery, this past January.

    The Murder Capital, 2023 Photo by Parker Alexander

    Much like the album, the show brought a fully realized, introspective post-punk set with dynamic energy that elevated the record for the 650-capacity venue.

    The show started with For Everything, the brooding opener off their debut album, When I Have Fears, which released in 2019.

    The Murder Capital, 2023 Photo by Parker Alexander

    They continued on at a monstrous pace, invoking a few raucous mosh pits, making it to a newer track, Return My Head and onto More Is Less.

    There were moments of Radiohead imbued with Bauhaus, sharing a great polyphonic relationship between both guitars and bass, with the drums driving the rhythm amidst every harsh snare hit, most notably in the 2-part song, Slowdance I+II. Frontman James McGovern’s poetic lyricism gracefully complemented every movement, switching between thunderous bellows and spoken pieces.

    The Murder Capital, 2023 Photo by Parker Alexander

    The North American Gigi’s Recovery Tour continues through April, where the band will make a surely momentous visit to California’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, followed by a few other international festival appearances throughout the rest of the Summer.

    The Murder Capital | Music Hall of Williamsburg | Brooklyn, NY | March 28, 2023

    Setlist: For Everything, Return My Head, More Is Less, The Stars Will Leave Their Stage, Green & Blue, Crying, A Thousand Lives, Gigi’s Recovery, Slowdance I, Slowdance II, We Had to Disappear, Feeling Fades, Only Good Things, Don’t Cling to Life, Ethel

    The Murder Capital
    The Murder Capital

  • Nai’a Releases Vulnerable and Passionate “Newman Beauty” Single 

    Manhattan’s Nai’a has just released a very vulnerable and passionate single titled “Newman Beauty,” on February 16th. This heartfelt single is part of Nai’a’s craft; with head turning, shocking visuals, and raw, emotional compositions, Nai’a isn’t just making music, but art. 

    Nai'a Releases Vulnerable and Passionate "Newman Beauty" Single  Newman Beauty Nai'a

    Being a pensive and exploring artist in the space of adventures circling through his life, Nai’a’s creative mind comes to life as he creates music. By intertwining the melodies and wordplays appealingly, he knits his song flawlessly.  

    Nai'a Releases Vulnerable and Passionate "Newman Beauty" Single 

    There’s a dichotomy of thoughts and escapades he powders his songs with. Nai’a meanders by his beliefs finding the meaning of life through the songs that he writes. “Newman Beauty”, Nai’a’s latest record, is an intimate closure of thoughts with simply him and a guitar. The yearning guitar riffs & his voice overflowing with a thousand stories culminate into an emotionally strong tune.  

    “I was in love, now you’re just a memory”

    – Nai’a 

    The song acts as a journal of his emotional journey when dreaming to be in love. His encumbered voice carries the weight of ardor. The single is a straightforward, easy, unadorned yet brilliantly crafted song that Nai’a has released. 

    While talking about the song Nai’a stated, “Writing Newman Beauty has been the biggest risk I’ve taken as a songwriter. I had to tell my story in the most honest way, with no sugar coating,” and he’s given it justice by keeping both his lyricism and the music minimal and honest.  

    The song feels like he’s floating on a sea of vulnerability, as he sings the words. He paints the picture of him longing for something that isn’t his.  

    The ambiguity of his mind preoccupies the thoughts that flow, as he communicates through the music. It’s like Nai’a is fixated on a person he can’t let go of, from a place of love and affection. You can hear the tenderness and pain along his dreamy melodies. “Newman Beauty” is a way of healing himself. 

    For more by Nai’a, click the link here. 

    To listen to “Newman Beauty,” click the link here.