NYS Music 2023

Tag: Music Hall of Williamsburg

  • Half Moon Run Headline Music Hall of Williamsburg

    It’s been five months since Half Moon Run were in New York for their album release show on the Rooftop of the Live Nation headquarters. On Friday, November 17, they returned with the purpose of conquering Brooklyn, headlining The Music Hall of Williamsburg, along with support by Le Ren.

    Fresh off a Tour of Europe that ended in October, this current tour started in the US in late October and will be running into their home country of Canada until the end of the year.

    Half Moon Run hit the stage around 9pm to a very packed and crowded room. Music Hall of Williamsburg is a very small and intimate room, it allows for a great concert experience both in sound and lighting and overall atmosphere. The band got a massive Brooklyn cheer as they hit the stage and wasted no time by starting off the night with their hit song “You Can Let Go”. the Power Trio of Devon Portielje, Conner Molander, and Dylan Phillips captivated the audience with their skill of rotating instrument changes between them, all pretty much-playing everything on stage at one point or another in the show.

    The energy at the show was great, the band leaned heavily on songs from the new release Salt as well as the debut album Dark Eyes. The highlight other than the very strong opening was the Encore which consisted of unforgettable performances of “Favourite Boy,” “Fire Escape,” and the finale “Full Circle” which is always amazing to see live.

    Here’s hoping they come back to our area in 2024 and play a much bigger venue next time.

    Half Moon Run – The Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn – November 17, 2023

    Setlist: You Can Let Go, Hotel in Memphis, Everyone’s Moving Out East, Narrow Margins, 9beat, Razorblade, Heartbeat, Gigafire / New Truth, Call Me in the Afternoon, Grow into Love, Alco, Devil May Care, Goodbye Cali,Drug You, Can’t Figure Out What’s Going On, She Wants to Know, Favourite Boy, Fire Escape, Full Circle

     

  • Dogstar To Perform In Brooklyn Ahead Of Upcoming Album

    Rock outfit Dogstar have announced that they will be stopping in Brooklyn as part of the tour for their upcoming album Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees, the group’s first project in over 20 years. Dogstar is made up of Bret Domrose (guitar/vocals), Robert Mailhouse (drums), and notably, Keanu Reeves (bass). The band is set to perform at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on December 11.

    Founded in Los Angeles during the 90s, the group started to formulate their alt-rock sound with garage jam sessions. In 1994 Dogstar would depart on an extensive tour and a year later the collective opened for David Bowie. The band released just two albums together, Our Little Visionary in 1996 and Happy Ending in 2000. Due to the members’ other professional and artistic commitments, the group grew apart, last performing in 2002. However, Dogstar returned this year with the single “Everything Turns Around” off their upcoming album. 

    We are so excited to re-introduce Dogstar with our new single ‘Everything Turns Around.’ It feels like a fun summer song to us.

    In addition to “Everything Turns Around” the group recently released “Breach” off of Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees. Made for the summer, both of the albums’ singles channel the Southern California energy that the band has become synonymous with. Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees is slated to drop on October 6. 

    Dogstar’s upcoming tour includes over 25 dates and stretches from each coast of the United States. The tour started on August 10 and runs until December 21. In addition to their American performances, the group also has three shows scheduled in Japan. Click here for tickets and more information.

    Dogstar Tour Dates

    8-22 Napa, CA – Uptown Theatre

    8-23 Menlo Park, CA – The Guild Theatre

    8-24 San Luis Obispo, CA – Fremont Theater

    8-26 Ventura, CA – Ventura Music Hall

    8-27 Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up

    8-28 Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory

    9-05 Osaka, Japan – Zepp Namba

    9-06 Yokohama, Japan – KT Zepp

    9-07 Yokohama, Japan – KT Zepp

    11-30 Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour

    12-03 San Francisco, CA – The Great American Music Hall

    12-05 Sacramento, CA – Crest Theatre

    12-07 Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall

    12-08 Detroit, MI – The Majestic Theatre

    12-09 Toronto, Ontario – Lee’s Palace

    12-11 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg

    12-12 Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club

    12-14 Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts

    12-15 Washington, D.C. – The Howard Theatre

    12-16 Norfolk, VA – The NorVa

    12-18 Charlotte, NC – The Underground

    12-19 Atlanta, GA – Center Stage

    12-20 Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl

  • In Focus: Melody’s Echo Chamber astound at Music Hall of Williamsburg

    If Melody’s Echo Chamber were to release a recording of their performance at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Sunday, April 2, the second of back-to-back sold out shows, I would buy it immediately. This was their first show in New York City in nearly eight years, and based on how the crowd responded to this one, they won’t have trouble selling out more whenever they come back.

    The band was an absolute force on stage from the moment they kicked off their set with “Endless Shore.” And throughout their set, they brought already-excellent songs to life in rollicking fashion while staying true to the vibe established in the studio versions. It’s one thing to listen to a band’s records, but when a band is this good live, getting to feel the music and have it played loud hits harder.

    Hailing from France and led by Melody Prochet on vocals in both French and English, synth, and tambourine, the band featured Reinhardt N. Fischer on guitar, bass, and synth, Frederik Swahn on bass and guitar, Johan Holmegard on drums, and Jay Pich on guitar and backing vocals. And all five of them were excellent.

    Not that there were any doubts about where the night was going after the first few songs, but “Some Time Alone, Alone” off the band’s self-titled 2013 release was an early standout in the set, showcasing the band’s collective and individual talents. And the setlist was very well crafted, with a mix of songs from all of the band’s studio releases intertwined, with songs from the self-titled album serving as the backbone.

    “Quand les Larmes D’un Ange Font Danser la Neige” closed out the main set, and about halfway through the song, Prochet exited the Music Hall of Williamsburg stage, allowing the full focus of the audience to remain on the rest of the band as they blasted through a jam that felt like it could last forever.

    Music Hall of Williamsburg

    As for the encore, the band kicked into the super popular “I Follow You,” one of their catchiest. And they closed out with “Cross My Heart,” the first track off Bon Voyage, another one that felt like time had stopped specifically for the audience to bask in the sound of this incredible band.

    If you’re looking to catch the band live and happen to be out west in the fall, they’re playing Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco. Those shows are just days before Desert Daze, and while there’s no lineup info about the festival yet, it wouldn’t be surprising if they wound up playing there, too.

    Setlist: Endless Shore, Looking Backward, Mount Hopeless, The Hypnotist, Some Time Alone, Alone; Personal Message, Quand vas-tu rentrer?, Pêcheuse de Lune, Bisou Magique, Unfold, Where the Water Clears the Illusion, Crystallized, Shirim, Visions of Someone Special, on a Wall of Reflection; Alma, Quand les larmes d’un ange font danser la neige

    Encore: I Follow You, Cross My Heart

  • 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

  • In Focus: Maya Hawke Plays Second Night at the Music Hall of Williamsburg

    This past Monday, March 13, Maya Hawke, well known for her role as Robin on the critically-acclaimed Netflix series Stranger Things, played an incredible show with opener Raffaella at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. The indie-folk singer, with her enchanting vocals and eclectic tone, truly wowed the crowd with various songs from her latest album, Moss. Fans from all over wearing long skirts, patterned tights, and fun jackets eagerly lined up in anticipation of Hawke’s sold-out show, one out of many for her Tactless tour.

    Maya Hawke

    Maya Hawke, born, raised, and based in New York City to Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, grew up surrounded by the music scene from a young age. The 24-year-old began truly taking off with her music career in 2020, with the release of Blush, a twelve-track record evoking somber yet raw lyrics with haunting instrumentals. Hawke, now nearing the end of her tour, is set to play four more shows in the US after playing eight across Europe and the UK. She last played New York in late August at the intimate, 120-capacity Colony venue in Woodstock.

    Raffaella took the stage at 8 PM, rocking a pair of star-covered jeans and a gray t-shirt. Her set consisted of multiple songs like “GROWN UP” and “BLONDE” from her recent EP release, LIVE, RAFF, LOVE (Act I). Her clear and energetic tone captivated an engaged audience bobbing their heads along to her indie-rock tunes.

    Raffaella
    Raffaella

    The Music Hall of Williamsburg hosted an engaging and intimate show, with Maya Hawke wowing her crazed and excited fans, many of whom brought signs, gifts, and letters for her to take. Prior to the show, a soundcheck experience and meet and greet were hosted to raise money for reproductive rights nonprofits such as Planned Parenthood and Noise for Now. Hawke improvised a song, “Running Shoes,” per the suggestion of a crowd member, and gave a heartfelt speech about her becoming the “best version of me and not the best thing that exists.” During “Here They Come,” Hawke sang beautifully with Hamilton Leithauser, and she became very emotional during her performance of “Thérèse,” waving her arms around to the beat of the music. 

    After a quick exit and outfit change, Hawke ended the show with an alluring encore, singing one of her earliest releases, “To Love a Boy.”

    Setlist: Backup Plan, Bloomed Into Blue, Hiatus, Crazy Kid, Luna Moth, Into My Arms (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds cover), Generous Heart, Running Shoes, Mermaid Bar, Missing Out (unreleased), I Wanna Be Sedated (Ramones cover), Here They Come (with Hamilton Leithauser), South Elroy, Thérèse, Sweet Tooth

    Encore: To Love a Boy