Palestinian singer-songwriter Marwan Abdelhamid, known professionally as Saint Levant, showcased his debut full-length album DEIRA with a powerful performance December 13 at Terminal 5.
Photo by Molly Higgins
The packed venue was dotted with Palestinian flags and traditional keffiyehs, and fans shouted in English and Arabic alike as they eagerly awaited Levant’s entrance. After an opening set from fellow Palestinian singer-songwriter Lina Makoul, Levant kicked off the evening with “On This Land,” the first song on DEIRA.
Backed by a group of dancers performing soldier-like choreography, Levant alternated seamlessly between rapping in English and singing in Arabic in one of many musical tributes to his homeland: “We are a nation of displaced dreamers/Heritage keepers,” Levant’s lyrics profess.
“Deira is the name of the hotel that my father, Rashid, an architect, built with my mother in 2000 when they moved to Gaza,” Levant told Variety when he released the album’s title song. ““Deira means the Kasbah or the old city…Deira is anchored in Algerian culture through its sound (where my mother is from) and in Palestinian culture through its words (the land of my father). Deira represents represents a mix of my parents’ cultures.”
Levant’s Terminal 5 performance showcased his versatility as a musician—in musical style, language, vocal range, dance, and as an instrumentalist: halfway through his second song, Levant traded in his microphone and began riffing on the saxophone as fans screamed their support.
Levant played the final performance of his DEIRA tour December 16 in Chicago.
Saint Levant – Terminal 5, Manhattan – December 13, 2024
Sammy Rae & The Friends brought soulful vocals, upbeat rhythms, sweet horns, and a genre-crossing show to Terminal 5 on Friday, November 8. Most importantly, they brought heartfelt joy and community to a packed venue when it was so needed – less than a week after the most contentious election in recent history.
Fresh off their first full studio album Something for Everybody, Sammy Rae & The Friends made a New York homecoming at Manhattan’s Terminal 5 for two nights on November 8 and 9. This isn’t the first time the band has toured in New York, having finished their CAMP world tour in Buffalo earlier this year, but it is the first time they’ve been back to showcase their new album.
Sammy Rae & The Friends appeal has grown exponentially since they formed in New York City, and played their first 30-person gig, as Sammy Rae said from the stage. The singer moved to the City in her late teens, originally intending to study music. She ended up playing at venues around the city and building her own network of musicians who would later become the eponymous “friends” in her band.
Smoke Ring, followed by Sub-Radio, opened the show, with the latter jumping onto the stage from their first note. The Washington DC-based Indie-pop band kicked, high jumped and sang soring lyrics for an action-packed hour before Sammy Rae & The Friends came on.
Showcasing that “Friends” isn’t just a name and community isn’t just an ideal, C-Bass Chiriboga, Sammy Rae’s drummer, replaced Michael Pereira, Sub-Radio’s drummer, with just four days’ notice since the latter was stuck out of the country. Throughout their set, Sub-radio and C-Bass created a safe space for queer teens highlighting the importance of music for those finding themselves, especially after an “incredibly hard week.”
As soon as Sammy Rae & The Friends stepped on stage, they exploded with energy, joy, and hope. Building on Sub-Radio’s message, early in the set, Sammy Rae highlighted that governmental policies may come and go but that community and radical joy will build true strength. The rest of the show expanded that message both on stage and in the audience. More than most front people, Sammy Rae shares the spotlight with her band, physically moving to the back of the stage to let her horn section riff off each other, her guitarists take the spotlight, and even letting her bassist solo with a standup bass. A string quartet even joined the band, so did Jacob Jeffries who was in from Los Angeles.
Their message of joy and community didn’t end at the stage. Throughout the audience, lyrics were yelled, fans danced, and Sammy Rae & The Friends encouraged it all – allowing fans to feel everything they needed. At one moment, as Sammy Rae saw members of the audience crying, she stopped the show, saying, “I see so many of you crying, and you’re so beautiful.” The singer then asked audience members to turn to their neighbors and tell them that they were beautiful.
As the night wore on, the band ended by bringing all their stored energy to bear, thanking their hometown audience with massive solos, sending the audience off with one more moment of joy.
Setlist: Friends Intro >Thieves, The Feeling, We Made it, Jackie O, Cool Douge, No Rule Book > Winds Intro, I Get It Now, David, Call Ya Back, Good Time Tavern, Luck of the Draw, Good Life Medley, State Song, Hold the Line, Coming Home Song
Sammy Rae & The Friends will be on tour in the northeast through December before going to Europe in February 2025. Notably, The band has committed to making their entire tour as environmentally friendly as possible, working with Headcount across the U.S. to register voters, and donating one dollar of every ticket sale to local LGBTQ organizations in each city they play.
Tour Dates:
Nov 11, 2024 Ulster Performing Arts Center Kingston, NY
Nov 12, 2024 Academy of Music Theatre Northampton, MA
Nov 13, 2024 Academy of Music Theatre Northampton, MA
Ricky Montgomery‘s electrifying performance at Terminal 5 in Manhattan on February 24th was a testament to his magnetic stage presence and undeniable talent. Returning to New York after his stint accompanying Cavetown on the “Bittersweet Daze” Tour, Ricky shared intimate moments with his adoring fans, weaving together a setlist of old favorites and new tracks from his latest album, Rick.
As the crowd erupted in anticipation, Ricky took the stage with a burst of energy, kicking off the night with his signature anthem “Line Without a Hook.” The surprise appearance of mxmtoon for the alternate version of the song elevated the performance to new heights, with both artists radiating infectious energy as they interacted with fans at the barricade.
Throughout the evening, Ricky’s charm and wit shone through, as he shared anecdotes about his time living in New York and reminisced about his early days as a musician. Songs like “Last Night” and “Ethan’s Song” took on new meaning as Ricky poured his heart out on stage, drawing fans closer with each heartfelt lyric.
The atmosphere crackled with excitement during the debut of “Unknown Phantom,” with Ricky playfully urging the crowd to “go crazy” at the behest of his label. Moments of pure euphoria ensued as fans echoed Ricky’s every word, shouting declarations of love and support into the air.
During the encore, Ricky’s energy remained undiminished as he returned to the stage with opener Noah Floersch for a rousing rendition of “This December,” igniting the crowd with an electrifying finale. From the soul-stirring melodies of “My Heart Is Buried in Venice” to the anthemic chorus of “Don’t Say That,” Ricky Montgomery’s performance was a masterclass in emotion and authenticity, leaving an indelible impression on all who were lucky enough to witness it.
Setlist: Line Without a Hook (featuring mxmtoon), In Your Pocket, Cabo, One Way Mirror, Talk to You, Black Fins, I Don’t Love You Anymore, Type A, Last Night, Truth or Dare, Unknown Phantom (Unreleased), Snow, Ethan’s Song, My Heart Is Buried in Venice (Acoustic), Boy Toy, It’s Ok to Cry, Don’t Say That, Out Like a Light
Encore: Sometimes I Need to Be Alone, This December, Mr Loverman
Chromeo—the GRAMMY-nominated duo of Montreal natives David “Dave 1” Macklovitch and Patrick “P-Thugg” Gemayel–have announced they will embark on a North American co-headline tour with The Midnight this fall, stopping at Terminal 5 on Oct. 4.
Credit: Bobby Doherty
After almost two decades of shiny synths and sharp lyrics, Chromeo has set themselves apart as dedicated scholars of the groove, proving time and again that no one does it quite like them. Across their five critically acclaimed LPs, Dave 1 and P-Thugg established an irresistible electrofunk sound. Together, the inseparable friends have toured the world over, perfecting a musical and visual language that is now instantly recognizable and more refined.
Chromeo’s long-awaited, sixth studio album, Adult Contemporary, is out this Friday, February 16. Across the record’s 14 tracks, the duo explores what it means to be funky in your 30s and 40s, offering the most sophisticated version of the infectious grooves and cheeky wordplay they’ve become known for. Already receiving critical acclaim, FLAUNT praises: “P-Thugg and Dave 1 have one of those unique creative partnerships that bears the most wonderful kind of fruit: that evergreen, ever-juicy groove.”
Chromeo debuted the new music in live performances last year, first at Coachella and then on their FUNK YOURSELF Tour, their first headline run in five years. Synthwave duo The Midnight will join Chromeo on the North American fall run. The band—helmed by Tyler Lyle and Tim McEwan—lives at the intersection of varying sounds, driven by the frictional spark that fires when the two melt together.
They will be joined this fall by special guests Ruth Radelet and Girl Ultra. Ruth Radelet is best known as the lead singer in the seminal electronic band Chromatics. Her solo material expands her sonic palette with hypnotic vocals and dreamy atmospheres. Girl Ultra is a Mexican singer, songwriter, and creative director.
Presale for all North American dates (US, Canada, Mexico) begins Wednesday, February 14 at 10 a.m. local time, with general on sale Thursday, February 15.
CHROMEO INTERNATIONAL DATES
May 28—Copenhagen, DK—Vega
May 29—Oslo, NO—Vulkan Arena
May 30—Stockholm, SE—Debaser Strand
June 1—Brussels, BE—La Madeline
June 2—Amsterdam, NL—Melkweg
June 4—Cologne, DE—Kantine
June 5—Berlin, DE—Metropol
June 7—Paris, FR—Le Trianon
June 9—Leeds, UK—Project House
June 10—Glasgow, UK—SWG3 TV Studio
June 11—Manchester, UK—New Century
June 13—Bristol, UK—SWX
June 14—London, UK—O2 Forum Kentish Town
June 21—Mexico City—MX Pepsi Center WTC
CHROME NIGHTS TOUR
September 5—Vancouver, BC—Malkin Bowl *
September 6—Seattle, WA—Remlinger Farms *
September 7—Bend, OR—Hayden Homes Amphitheater *
September 11—San Francisco, CA—The Warfield *
September 13—Los Angeles, CA—Greek Theater *
September 14—San Diego, CA—Gallagher Square *
September 16—Phoenix, AZ—The Van Buren *
September 17—El Paso, TX—Lowbrow Palace *
September 19—San Antonio, TX—Boeing Center at Tech Port *
September 20—Austin, TX—ACL Live at the Moody Theater *
September 21—Dallas, TX—The Factory Deep Ellum *
September 22—Houston, TX—The Lawn at White Oak Music Hall *
September 24—St. Petersburg, FL—Jannus Live *
September 25—Orlando, FL—The Vanguard *
September 27—Atlanta, GA—The Eastern †
September 28—Asheville, NC—Rabbit Rabbit †
September 29—Raleigh, NC—The Ritz †
October 1—Philadelphia, PA—Franklin Music Hall †
October 2—Boston, MA—Roadrunner †
October 3—Washington, DC—The Anthem †
October 4—New York, NY—Terminal 5 †
October 7—Montreal, QC—MTELUS †
October 9—Toronto, ON—HISTORY †
October 10—Newport, KY—MegaCorp Pavilion †
October 11—Detroit, MI—Royal Oak Music Hall †
October 12—Chicago, IL—Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom †
New York City’s Terminal 5 was packed on Friday, February 9 as R&B star Tinashe played to a sold-out crowd. The singer-songwriter’s current tour showcases her sixth studio album, BB/Ang3l, which was released in September, 2023.
Tinashe — Photo by Molly Higgins
The energy in the 3,000-capacity venue was electric as Tinashe’s stylish fans packed in, and the crowd eagerly shouted along with a projected digital countdown in the minutes before she took the stage.
Tinashe emerged on top of a towering platform washed in blue light to sing her first song, “Treason.” She disappeared momentarily before reappearing at center stage, flanked by a group of athletic backup dancers, and transitioning into her upbeat track “X.”
The choreography for Tinashe’s BB/Ang3l tour is sharp and energetic, and looked truly effortless on the artist, who has been training in dance since the age of four. The crowd went wild with nearly every move Tinashe hit, and she worked the stage with a cool, laser-sharp focus.
The BB/Ang3l tour will continue through mid April, culminating in Tinashe’s set at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
Tinashe Terminal 5 Setlist: Treason, X, None of My Business, Talk to Me Nice, Life’s Too Short, Throw a Fit, HMU For a Good Time, Die a Little Bit, Stormy Weather, Bouncin, Link Up, Cash Race, Sunburn, Cold Sweat, The Worst in Me, Unconditional, Story of Us, 2 On, Rascal (Superstar), Gold Teeth, Uh Huh, Ghetto Boy, SHY GUY, Tightrope, Gravity/Superlove, Needs/All Hands on Deck
