It’s only right for 2024 to end with a slew of high-energy concerts. On Friday, December 20, two Philadelphia based bands, City Wide and Wax Jaw, journeyed to Bowery Ballroom. The two shared similar goals: charm local New Yorkers and supportive listeners through dynamic and compelling music.
Before these two Philadelphia based bands hit the stage, the night started off with The DTs. This modern pop duo, consisting of David Cacciatore and Tom Losito, channeled a variety of sounds. Melding into rock, punk and blues, The DTs sought to bring their hometown of Jersey to the forefront. They experimented with harmonies, catchy lyrics and rockin’ guitar riffs. The DTs also performed their new single, “Cherry,” an uplifting track, with roots in adolescent memories.
Slowly as the DT’s set came to a close, more people started to trickle into the venue. Just after 9pm, Wax Jaw took center stage, ready to bring the energy. This past year, Wax Jaw has rapidly made its mark in the Philly music scene, drawing inspiration from punk and new wave genres. Evoking a sense of nostalgia while highlighting trans voices, the band is made of the singer Shane Morgan, drummer Ian DiBruno, bassist Greg Blanc, and guitarists Sean Vannata and George Fenton. Throughout this leg of the tour, Ben Manning replaced DiBruno’s spot on the drums.
Right off the bat, Fenton took over the microphone, calling out to the audience to gather close and get ready to dance. Upon hearing his words, fans pressed close to the edge of the stage, tilting their heads back and forth in tune to the music. Known for their album, Between the Teeth (2023), the band played hits such as “Be the Man,” “Mirror” and “Attitude.” Morgan kept the crowd entranced, each song more powerful than the last. With a focus on lyricism and balanced instrumentals, the driving drum beats grounded the audience. Halfway through the set, Fenton urged everyone to gather close to the ground. Reaching crescendo, band members and fans jumped up in the air, clapping hands and singing along.
Wax Jaw’s high-octane performance set the mood for the rest of the night. Fans split into groups, chattering in anticipation about the previous bands until 10:30 rolled around. At this point, the front of Bowery Ballroom was packed. City Wide entered only a few moments later, earning a roar from the crowd. Vocalist Emily Goldenberg immediately made her presence well known, her strong and captivating vocals pairing perfectly Simon Sheintoch, Evan Brink and Patrick Crosgrave. Ben Manning joined once again on the drums, sticks flying as he pounded the bass and snare.
Placed into the alternative genre, City Wide draws inspiration from classic rock and upbeat melodies seen in tracks by The Lumineers and Mt. Joy. They honed a charismatic stage presence and their hit, “Countdown” seemed to resonate with frequenters of the Ballroom. Goldenberg declared this song was meant to pay homage to the upcoming New Year, counting down from10 in the midst of the chorus. City Wide also made sure to balance out the night with some songs on the slower side, including “Higher & Higher.”
The evening concluded with City Wide returning for an encore. Each member donned Christmas themed sunglasses to cover Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run.” A whirlwind of energy overtook the room, bodies swaying in time to the rocking, fast paced rhythm. Ending 2024 right at Bowery Ballroom, both Wax Jaw and City Wide hope to play NYC once again in the coming year.
There’s something about anniversary shows that really gets a crowd going. Pressed against each other in the pit, hands swaying, chanting in time to favorite songs. What better way to celebrate 20 years of Interpol’sAntics than a 3-day sold out show at Brooklyn Steel? Longtime fans gathered for opening night on December 3. Ready to revel in the gritty, driving force of rich guitar playing and powerful lyricism.
Around since 1997, Interpol was formed under New York University doors, beginning with lead guitarist Daniel Kessler, frontman Paul Banks and drummer Greg Drudy. Their post-punk sound has become a staple amongst New Yorkers, emerging as a key rock revivalist of the early 2000s. In hopes to sound sleek and mysterious, they derived their name from The International Police Association, signing with Matador Records in 2002. Now, Interpol has played at a multitude of venues across the world, joined by Sam Fogarino on the drums.
With white sheer curtains draped across the front, a hush fell over the crowd as Interpol took stage a few minutes past 9:15pm. Opening with “Next Exit”, the band remained obscured. The crowd focused on projections of their silhouettes, jumping back and forth across the curtains. Once their second song, “Evil” reached crescendo, the lighting crew scrambled into the photo pit. The crew pulled back the expansive white sheet to reveal the band, dressed to the nines in black tailored suits.
After every song, fans whooped and hollered, dazed by the thick smoke and dramatic strobe lights. Lush storytelling balanced out catchy choruses, pairing with intricate guitar riffs to make a visually immersive performance. Their iconic color scheme of black, white and red alongside a sharp typeface held true. Non stop energy created through intriguing lighting choices and special effects.
As Interpol performed fan favorites such as “C’mere” and “Rest my Chemistry” the crowd pushed forward to the edge of the barricade, unable to peel their eyes off of the stage. By the time the 21 song setlist came to a close, the venue was absolutely packed. Reveling in the rush, fans lingered in the pit, chatting excitedly while sharing videos and treasured moments.
Interpol – Brooklyn Steel – Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Set 1 (Antics): Next Exit, Evil, Narc, Take You on a Cruise, Slow Hands, Not Even Jail, Public Pervert, C’mere, Length of Love, A Time to Be So Small Set 2: Pioneer to the Falls, No I in Threesome, The Rover, Rest My Chemistry, My Desire, Roland, Lights, All the Rage Back Home, Obstacle 1 Encore: The New, PDA
Bonnaroo 2024 was my first time attending a music festival of this size as well as camping there. Going into it, I had no idea what to expect or how vast the grounds and crowds would be. The sheer scale of the festival was awe-inspiring, and was a humbling experience to be part of.
The festival drew over 70,000 Bonnaroovians to the festival in Manchester, TN over four days, June 13-16 with the festival completely sold out. Throughout the festival, the temperature soared to a high of 94 degrees, but that didn’t dampen the spirits of Bonnaroovians from partying all day and night.
Bonnaroo Day 1: June 13
I arrived at the media camping grounds at 8 am to claim my spot and swiftly set up camp before the gates for Centeroo opened at noon. At noon, I made my way to Centeroo for the first time and walked the grounds. Right away, there was a contagious energy of excitement on the ground from veteran Bonnaroovians returning home to first-timers like myself in awe of all of it.
While exploring Centeroo, I made my way to the House of Matroomony. I heard about this house performing weddings at Bonnaroo and thought the idea was cute; little did I know when I walked in there, I would witness and photograph the first wedding of Bonnaroo. The couple was Savannah and Nathan Ingle, who were officiated by Virginia Slim Jim. What a way to kick off my Bonnaroo.
Savannah and Nathan Ingle center left and right, Virginia Slim Jim in the center
My first show of the day was later in the evening Durand Bernarr at the This Tent. His set was high energy, and he had a fantastic stage presence and the crowd was eating up his performance from the moment he walked out in his all-denim look. Throughout his performance, he sang songs from his EP En Route released May 31 this year. I stayed at This Tent for the next show Nation of Language. This was my first time hearing and seeing them perform, and it was a thrilling experience. The band has an 80s synth pop melodic sound to them that really works and kept the crowd grooving. They started their set off with ‘A New Goodbye’ from their new studio album Strange Disciple. From the This Tent, I quickly had to make my way to the What Stage to catch headliner Pretty Lights.
Durand Bernarr
Pretty Lights had such an imaginative backdrop behind the DJ booth, a wall of circuit panels with wires that was part of his setup. With a band accompanying him, Derek Vincent Smith started his set by hyping up the crowd and giving them a performance of “Swirl Song/Sun Machine,” the lighting that followed keeping the crowd hyped and flowing to the tunes.
Towards the end of the song, hearing the crowd sing lyrics from David Bowie‘s “Memory of a Free Festival” – ‘Sun Machine is coming down and we’re gonna have a party’ – was such a magical moment. Hearing the crowd of that magnitude for my first time at the festival was just a small taste of what would come the next couple of days. To finish off my first day of Bonnaroo, I made my way to That Tent to see Geese. Another first-timer seeing and hearing of this band, who brought their punk-rock fusion and had the crowd in their grasp from the moment they got on the stage.
Pretty Lights Crowd
Bonnaroo Day 2: June 14
Friday was a jam-packed day for music. Starting my afternoon off at the That Tent for MIKE who brought his profound sound that showcased his lyrics and wisdom within the music. Throughout his set, he got great crowd participation whenever he interacted with them. He performed songs from his new record ‘Burning Desire’ and a couple of songs that were untitled and were still a work in progress. The crowd loved each song he did.
After MIKE’s set, I headed towards This Tent for Bonny Light Horseman. The band brought a calm demeanor with their folk sound and strong lyrics behind each song. It was a nice change of pace, from all the hustle and bustle that a festival can bring. After the calm, I made it to Which Stage for The Japanese House who continues the same level of calm in her performance. A blue sky and cloud backdrop set the tone perfectly for it. She performed an unreleased song called ‘Smiley Face’. In her words, it’s “about my big gay love,” and the crowd went absolutely crazy for it.
MIKE
Drivers Era at the What Stage had tremendous energy throughout their whole set. There was amazing chemistry between the band and the crowd that carried the performance. ‘Turn Up the Music’, ‘Get Off My Phone’ and ‘Feel You Now’ started the set, and all around you couldn’t have walked away after their set without having a smile on your face. I then raced over to This Tent to catch Grouplove, my second time seeing them perform, and I knew the moment that they took to the stage they were going to take everyone on a ride with them. The atmosphere was so electric and contagious. I had such a fun time photographing them.
The Drivers Era, Ross Lynch
I got a little break before heading back to Which Stage for Lizzy McAlpine. Her stage setup was quite unique, it was giving off living room vibes, with a band set up straight across the stage with her being right in the middle and having stage light stands as her backlight across them all. Her performance felt very intimate, no matter where you were in the crowd. She started her set with ‘doomsday’ that got everyone in their feelings from the start. In the middle of her set, she did a mashup of Rascal Flatts “Bless the Broken Road” and John Denver’s “Leaving on a Jet Plane” that the crowd loved.
After getting in my feels with Lizzy, Maggie Rogers took the Which Stage next. Maggie had by far one of my favorite artist’s entrances of the festival. Her band started playing the intro to ‘It Was Coming All Along’, and she rose from a lift on top of her stage stairs case, and when she popped up, the crowd went crazy for her. She went on to perform ‘Drunk’ and ‘That’s Where I Am’ but by the end of her third song, I had scurried off to the What Stage for headliner Post Malone.
Maggie Rogers
Post Malone’s intro was the most exciting thus far this weekend, starting with a string quartet walking out and beginning to play softly, then getting louder, followed by a female guitarist who gave a killer guitar solo that led into the band’s intro to ‘Better Now’ and his entrance to the stage was accompanied with pyrotechnic fireworks. The crowd was beyond ready for Posty, and from the moment he took to the stage, the crowd sang every song along with him. He had such a smooth transition into ‘Wow’ and a mashup of ‘Zack And Codeine’ and ‘Psycho.’
Post Malone
To wrap up my night, I headed back to the Which stage for my most anticipated show of the night T-Pain. I don’t think people really realized how many hits this man has. His set was packed with almost all of them, he started his set with ‘Take Your Shirt Off’ and then went into ‘Up Down’ then ‘Bag of Money’. After the third song I quickly went to put my camera away to go join the crowd for the rest of his set.
To be part of this crowd was truly insane, everyone was having such an amazing time singing, and two stepping the night away. He had such tremendous stage presence throughout the whole set. My favorite songs he performed were ‘Good Life’, ‘Black and Yellow’, ‘Kiss Kiss’, and his cover of Sam Smith’s ‘Stay With Me’ blew me away! Crowd favorites were ‘2 Step’, ‘Low’, cover of Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ and of course ‘Buy U a Drank’. He wrapped up his set by doing ‘All I Do Is Win’ and ‘I’m on a Boat’.
Bonnaroo Day 3: June 15
I managed to get some sleep after T-Pain’s late set, which went into the early morning. By noon, it had reached the festival’s hottest temperature at 94 degrees. I made my way to Outteroo and headed towards Plaza 3 House of Yes Pride Parade. This was the fourth year that the House of Yes has hosted the Pride Parade.
When I arrived and entered the House of Yes was a truly heartwarming moment, to be surrounded by the queer community and feel love in the air instantly. Knowing everyone in that room was in a safe space to be their authentic self and no judgment by anyone. Just before the pride parade kicked off, a little dance party broke out in the House of Yes. Everyone was enjoying themselves, and soon enough, the parade kicked off, and the party continued outside. From the House of Yes, the parade took everyone to Where in The Wood for the after-party, where the dance party continued with a DJ set.
I made my way back into Centeroo to catch my first show of the day, The Maine at the What Stage. The rock band brought high energy that had the crowd dancing from their opening song ‘Blame’ and they performed ‘Sticky’ and ‘Slip The Noose’. I finally had a nice break from the sun before going to the Which Stage for Brittany Howard. I’ve been a big Brittany Howard fan for quite some time now, and to finally have gotten to photograph her and see her perform was such a dream. Her vocals are so unique and powerful, the energy she gave off the stage was amazing. ‘Earth Sign’ started her set, with her soulful vocal chops that set the tone for her set. Her soulful voice continued into ‘Georgia’ and the song ‘Stay High’ gave the crowd an insight into the wide range of her vocal ability and sound she has developed.
From one soulful performance to another one. I made my way back to What Stage for Jon Batiste. As with Brittany, I was excited for Jon’s set. His vocals and lyrics are so powerful, and on top of that, there aren’t that many people who can pull off a sequin suit, but he did. There are no words to describe the sheer radiant energy he was giving to the crowd. My favorite song he performed was ‘Freedom’, an energetic song and mood booster that had the crowd on their feet dancing.
Jon Batiste
I boogied my way back to Which Stage for my favorite artist at the festival, Renee Rapp. I’ve been lucky enough to have seen her perform before, but this was my first time photographing her, and she did not disappoint. Her fans were among the loudest at the festival at that time. I love how Renee is able to do such smooth transitions from her upbeat songs ‘Talk Too Much ‘and ‘Poison Poison’ right into her softer song ‘Bruises.’ I enjoyed the rest of her set once I was done, my personal favorites were ‘Not My Fault’, ‘Pretty Girls’, ‘Tummy Hurts’ and the song she hates ‘Too Well’. After her set, I walked away from it with one of the biggest smiles on my face.
Renee Rapp
To end my night, This Tent had the Dashboard Confessional Emo Superjam. Bonnaroo is known for doing Superjams where a mix of artists perform a set based on the theme and it’s always a festival highlight. When I got there, I saw Dashboard Confessional and Andrew McMahan doing Something Corporate’s “I Woke Up In a Car.” By this point, I was running on about 5 hours of sleep, and it was finally catching up to me. I left the Superjam early and called it a night.
Dashboard Confessional and Andrew McMahon, Emo SuperJam
Bonnaroo Day 4: June 16
I couldn’t believe it was the final day of the festival, and I had so much in store for myself that day. I couldn’t miss seeing Chappell Roan on the Which Stage. This artist is right up there with T-Pain, Renee Rapp, Brittany Howard, and Jon Batiste for my must-see performances while here. She’s been having one hell of a year, and had by far the biggest crowd for any artist at the festival. She and her band are dressed in all latex doctor/nurses outfits. The sheer volume of the crowd could be heard throughout the festival grounds and camping grounds. ‘Femininomenon’ got the party going with a song ‘with a fucking beat.’
With every song, the crowd was singing right along with Chappell. She then went into ‘Naked in Manhattan’ and ‘Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl’. Hands down the most anticipated song of hers I was looking forward to and also a crowd favorite is ‘HOT TO GO’. To see the sea of people in the crowd doing the dance was so magical and definitely a core memory for me from the festival. She debuted a new song called ‘The Subway,’ another show that left a smile on my face afterward.
Chappell Roan, photographed from the crowd
With a little break, I headed to the What Stage for Carly Rae Jepsen. Right from the start, she brought out high energy, and there was a strong crowd connection from the beginning when she sang ‘Now That I Found You’. Unfortunately, due to thunder and lightning, her set was cut short, but after the weather cleared up, she was able to get back on stage and finish her set. Due to the weather, the schedule changed a little, but that’s just festival life for you.
Which Stage had Goth Babe, and they were another artist that I hadn’t heard of before, and I really didn’t know what to expect. When he came out to start his set, I was pleasantly surprised. He had an indie vibe to him with a hint of pop. I definitely jammed to his music while in the pit and instantly became a fan. For as much as I wanted to stay for his set, I had to head out to catch Megan Thee Stallion on What Stage.
Goth Babe
Megan knows how to put on a show! She started her set with ‘HISS’ accompanied with pyrotechnics. The crowd roared when she came out and kept the energy going with ‘Ungrateful’ and ‘Thot Shit’. For the last time of the festival, I made my way back to Which Stage for Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. With his Americana sound, he slowed down the pace and had everyone bobbing and singing to ‘King of Oklahoma’ and ‘Stockholm.’
Here is where I made an executive decision to stay for two songs of his instead of the three in order to make it to my last show of Bonnaroo at the This Tent for Taking Back Sunday. I made it just in time as the band was starting to play ‘S’Old.’ The crowd was electric for the pop-punk group, and honestly, it was such a perfect way for me to end my Bonnaroo experience.
Megan Thee Stallion
Reflection
I am forever thankful to have had this opportunity to have come and cover Bonnaroo 2024. Before I got to Bonnaroo, I heard and read about The Bonnaroovian Code and didn’t really think too much about it. As I sit here reflecting on my time on the farm I understand now when everyone says ‘The Bonnaroovian code isn’t just for four days a year in Tennessee – it’s for all Bonnaroovians, everywhere and all the time. Bringing the spirit of Bonnaroo with you out into the world.’ I can’t wait to go back for round two in 2025.
This past Saturday, May 11, English singer-songwriter Holly Humberstone did not disappoint as she graciously took the stage at the Brooklyn Steel for one of two NY shows.
She is scheduled to tour until the end of May as part of “The Holly Humberstone (This Feels Like the Truman) Show” North American leg. Her tour, which makes lyrical reference to her song, “Ghost Me,” included many tracks off of her latest album, Paint My Bedroom Black.
Holly Humberstone, photographed by Sarah Hyun
The pop-rock artist gained popularity after releasing her debut EP, Falling Asleep at the Wheel. Fans resonated deeply with her heartfelt lyrics, as she sang candidly about the difficulties of navigating familial and romantic relationships, addiction, breakups, and growing up. “Falling Asleep at the Wheel,” one of her most popular songs, includes lyrics like “Oh, you never smoked this much before we / Light up, light up another cigarette / I can tell you’re drinking only to forget / Don’t know how I got you in such a mess.” Holly never fails to cut right to the heart with her words.
Holly Humberstone, photographed by Sarah Hyun
Currently, Humberstone has eighteen tour dates left. She previously played at Webster Hall in 2022, and also toured during Girl in Red’s “Make It Go Quiet” tour and Olivia Rodrigo’s “Sour” tour.
Holly Humberstone, photographed by Sarah Hyun
Holly started the night off strong with her song, “Paint My Bedroom Back,” of which her latest album is named after. Each band member took the stage one at a time, triggering a round of screams from fans who had been camping out hours ahead to make it to the front of the barricade. The energy swelled in the room as Holly’s guitarist, bassist, and drummer built up the opening track seamlessly.
Holly Humberstone, photographed by Sarah Hyun
Upon Holly’s entrance, the crowd made a deafening sound, and she scaled the stage freely, singing her heart out while swishing her hair to the beat. During “Elvis Impersonators,” she recounted her experience in Tokyo, and how she was surrounded by people “dressing up like Michael Jackson.” In the song, she sang lyrics like, “And the Elvis impersonators / Crowding at the elevators / Reminds you of a private joke we had.” The crowd stayed silent during this song, soaking in Humberstone’s beautifully raspy vocals.
Holly Humberstone, photographed by Sarah Hyun
Holly ended the night with “Ghost Me,” before singing “Friendly Fire” and “Scarlett” during the encore. Fans, feeling bittersweet that the show was over, exited the venue with satisfied smiles on their faces.
Setlist: Paint My Bedroom Black, Into Your Room, The Walls Are Way Too Thin, Overkill, Kissing In Swimming Pools, Cocoon, Dive, Deep End, Can You Afford To Lose Me?, Antichrist, Down Swinging, Lauren, Falling Asleep at the Wheel, Elvis Impersonators, Flatlining, Girl, Sleep Tight, Ghost Me
Under the cover of night on April 12, performing a total of 37 songs, not including the orchestra that introduced him at the top of the night before morphing musically into “Nadie Sabe,” Bad Bunny showed fans at the Barclays Center in attendance for his ‘Most Wanted’ Tour that he isn’t going anywhere.
From opening the show with a full-string orchestra who performed for about 15 minutes of stage time the dynamic backup dancers, Bad Bunny really put on one western and trap inspired show. At one, he exited the stage only to re-enter again on horseback. And yes, it was a real horse.
The first act consisted of songs mostly from his latest LP ‘Nadie sabe lo sue va a passer manana.’ Bad Bunny changed it up by going back to his trap roots with “Tu No Metes Cabra,” which was released in 2017, followed by “Pa Ti” and “No Te Hagas.” He made sure to greet just about every section of the Barclays Center and accomplished that with a floating catwalk in the center of the arena that slowly spun around the venue. In the final act, Bad Bunny transported fans to the songs that have taken the world by storm, such as his 2023 single with Grupo Frontera, “Un x100to” as well as megahits from 2020’s YHLQMDLG (“Safaera” and “Yo Perreo Sola”) and 2022’s Un Verano Sin Ti (“Efecto” and “Me Porto Bonito”).
While some fans may have been disappointed to not hear their favourite song, the show ended on a strong note with “Efecto” and “Me Porto Bonito” — both songs whipped fans into a frenzy that felt worth the wait. Bunny closed the show with “WHERE SHE GOES” — and confetti.
And the crowd left with the sense they had just seen a true international superstar.
Bad Bunny Setlist: NADIE SABE, MONACO, FINA, HIBIKI, MR. OCTOBER, MERCEDES CAROTA, CYBERTRUCK, VOU 787, SEDA, BATICANO, Pa Ti, No Te Hagas, Vuelve, Me Mata, Soy peor, Tú no vive así, Chambea, Diles, 25/8, VUELVE CANDY B, THUNDER Y LIGHTNING, GRACIAS POR NADA, UNX100TO, BABY NUEVA, PERRO NEGRO, Safaera, Yo perreo sola, La Santa, La Jumpa, DÁKITI, Efecto, Me Porto Bonito, UN PREVIEW, NO ME QUIERO CASAR, and WHERE SHE GOES.
Talk about saving the best for last, On April 9, that was the case for Dreamville’s Bas as he stopped at the famed Irving Plaza in New York City for the last stop on his ‘WE ONLY TALK ABOUT REAL SHIT WHEN WE’RE F*CKED UP’ North American Tour.
The show featured three openers: Blxckie, Reuben Vincent, and Hoosh. Each opener each played for around 20 minutes, giving a taste of their style and sound. This shorter set times and the overall quality of the openers worked really well for getting the crowd ready for Bas to take the stage. It was obvious that Bas picked musicians he respects and enjoys listening to to open for him, something emphasized by a story he told about first hearing Blxckie’s music while in South Africa during his set.
Bas graced the stage under a red glowed ambience and sintilating sounds of his live band. Bas was particularly good at interacting with and engaging the crowd. The show kept a great energy with the crowd getting into songs from We Only Talk About Real Shit When We’re Fucked Up and Bas’ back catalog. Bas brought backing vocalists who really filled out his live sound and added a sense of harmony to the performance. These vocals were such a nice touch that really show his attention to detail in putting together a performance.
The show ended with Bas inviting a fan up to rap J. Cole’s verse on his song “Lit.” Clearly energized, the fan selected from the crowd excitedly performed with Bas. Longtime collaborator and Dreamville leader J.Cole popped onto the stage to the surprise of the fan and the crowd. Cole went on to finish the song with the fan and perform “H.Y.B.” with Bas and his classic smash hit ‘No Role Modelz’ rounding out a great night of music and vibes.
Setlist: Light of my Soul, Home Alone, 179 Deli, Black Jedi, Choppas, Yao Ming, Diamonds, Methylone, Dopamine, Ricochet, Clouds Never Get Old, Night Job, Khartoum, Risk, Decent, U-Turn ft. Blackie, Passport Bros, Boca Raton, The Jackie, Paper Cuts, Dr. O’blivion, Wait on Me, H.Y.B., Costa Rica, Down Bad, Tribe and Lit.
On Thursday, April 4, with a spectacular fusion of raw energy, lyrical prowess, and dynamic emotion, Kevin Gates took the stage of Irving Plaza for his “The Ceremony Tour,” leaving the New York City audience amazed. The tour stop was filled with heartfelt yet raw emotion, furthermore solidifying Gates and his status as a rap heavyweight, as he commanded the stage with the same unapologetic attitude that has defined his career.
After a series of DJ playlists to warm up the crowd, the opener of the night was DJ Chose, who has collaborated with Kevin Gates on some of his greatest hits and has a few of his own. DJ Chose lauded his accolades and made sure the crowd had the right energy before Kevin’s arrival. After DJ Chose, Kevin Gates’s DJ executed a final round of musical wind up with some industry favorites ensuring the crowd was ready for Kevin Gates to take the stage.
After an astounding ovation upon taking the stage, Kevin Gates opened with “Speed Dial” to which the crowd recited word for word. Kevin went on to perform songs “In God I Trust,” “Free At Last,” “Arm and Hammer” and more. A southern classic that got everyone up off their feet was when Kevin Gates performed “TWMD” which went viral during New Orleans Mardi Gras last year. As the song came on, the entire arena erupted into a frenzy as his fans belted the lyrics, completely losing themselves in the song.
Notably, Gates’ crowd control and poise was evident, as he purposefully took moments to talk with his supporters over the mic. Moving at a brisk but necessary pace, he took a minute to evangelize his fans. Speaking about his time incarcerated and having to miss his daughter’s birthday, Gates focused on having the work ethic and drive to make his situation right, as he encouraged his fans to keep their head held high even in the darkest of times. Bringing the show to a close with popular tracks such as “Me Too,” “2 Phones,” and “Breakfast”, Kevin went out with a bang amongst a flurry of smoke from CO2 cannons, as he mysteriously disappeared behind the set. Tickets for the rest of the “The Ceremony” tour are available here.
Kevin Gates Setlist: Speed Dial, Facts, Push It, Yonce Freestyle, Arm and Hammer, TWMD, Wassup With It, In God I Trust, Scars, Imagine That, Free At Last, It Won’t Happen, Healing, Birds Calling, Power, Great Man, Fatal Attraction, Breakfast, Luv Bug, Posed To Be In Love, Heal You, Lil Yea, Me Too, One Thing, All Thee Above, Bad For Me, Time for That, 2 Phones, and Broken Men.
Over the Easter Weekend, Sleepy Hallow’s Boy Meets World Tour arrived in New York City. Prior to Sleepy coming on stage and bringing down the Palladium, fellow New York artists such as Rah Swish, Rowdy Rebel and others graced the stage for the warmup.
After a roaring ovation upon taking the stage, Sleepy performed some of his more introspective tracks including “Anxiety,” featuring Doechii, where he’s opened up about his mental health, the hardship he has faced in the past year crafting and releasing his latest album, Boy Meets World. The crowd joined in singing word for word while Sleepy Hallow performed other hits such as “Die Young,” featuring 347AIDAN, “Pain Talk” featuring Lil TJAY, and more.
During the show, Sleepy Hallow invited label mate Eli Fross to perform alongside him.
Sleepy Hallow decided to surprise the New York crowd by inviting some of their own on stage. He brought out Bronx artists: Cash Cobain and Bay Swag who bought the Slizzy Experience to the Palldium in performing viral hit “Fisherrr.”
Sleepy Hallow ended the night with some of his classic hits, “2055,” “Deep End Freestyle,” “Basketball Dreams,” and “1999.” Tickets for the rest of the Boy Meets World Tour are available here.
On Friday, March 22, UK-born singer-songwriter Matt Maltese took the stage at Irving Plaza for his sold-out show as part of his “Touring Just to Tour” NY run. The beautiful stage truly set the vibe of the concert—the lights, the vines, the street lamps—they all created a cozy and whimsical experience that complemented Matt’s soft and buttery vocals.
Matt Maltese — Photographed by Sarah Hyun
Matt Maltese got his start with music in Reading, Berkshire, where as a young kid he took a particular interest in songwriting. Drawing inspiration from the blues and jazz genres, Maltese wrote about heartbreak, falling in love, and the world ending—in a way like no other modern artist. His raw, poetic, and deeply heartfelt lyrics revealed his experiences navigating adolescence and adulthood. Maltese is halfway through his American leg of tour, where he has twelve more dates at venues in Massachusetts to California. He previously played at the Governors Ball Music Festival.
Matt Maltese — Photographed by Sarah Hyun
Prior to Matt’s entrance onto the stage, opener The Army, The Navy, put on a beautiful acoustic show for the crowd of twelve hundred. The pre-show playlist included jazzy background music that excited concertgoers swayed back and forth to. Upon Matt’s entrance, the crowd screamed in excitement. One fan yelled, “Matt you’re so British!,” where he responded with, “Yes, I am very British.”
Matt Maltese — Photographed by Sarah Hyun
During his opening song, “You Deserve an Oscar,” Maltese kept impressive eye contact with the audience as he belted sincere lyrics and beautifully played his piano. Halfway through the show, he played a game with the audience where he asked which out of three statements about his bassist, Jamien, was true—1. He fed his friend’s pet koi fish chips and chili oil, causing them to die; 2. He pretended to be a waiter at a random restaurant in order to get a woman’s number; and 3. He was fired from his ice cream job for using a single spoon to try every flavor there. He later revealed that all three were true.
Jamien Randall Pepper (right) and Madden Klass (left) — Photographed by Sarah Hyun
Towards the end of the show, he played his most well-known song, “As the World Caves In,” singing lyrics like “And here is it, our final night alive / And as the earth runs to the ground / Oh girl it’s you that I lie with / As the atom bomb locks in / Yes it’s you I welcome death with.” Anyone who has listened to Matt Maltese would not deny his true talent in crafting lyrics and melodies.
Matt ended the night with an encore, singing “Strange Time” and “Everyone Adores You (At Least I Do).” Although Matt does not have any New York dates left for this tour, he will likely return during his next run.
Matt Maltese – Irving Plaza – March 22, 2024
Setlist: You Deserve an Oscar, Mother, Irony Would Have It, Curl Up and Die, Hello Black Dog, Little Person, Mystery, Madhouse / Jupiter, Krystal, Krakow, Driving Just to Drive, The Earth is a Very Small Dot, Kiss Me (Sixpence None the Richer Cover), Rom-Com Gone Wrong, Nightclub Love, As the World Caves In / Intolewd
Encore: Strange Time, Everyone Adores You (At Least I Do)
