Joy (Anonymous)
Nestled in the heart of New York City, Knockdown Center is not just a venue – it’s an architectural anomaly, and it was the perfect backdrop for Joy (Anonymous) to cast their musical spell upon a packed crowd. Henry Counsell and Louis Curran make up the DIY electronic duo bringing London’s West Bank to the rest of the world. Fresh off the release of their second EP in November, their raw talent was palpable at the mid-December show.
veggi
Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn, New York, was the place to be on a cold Thursday night, where the spotlight was on veggi (aka veggibeats), an artist who has been making waves in the online music scene with his unique mash-ups and boiler room style performances. A Los Angeles native whose career took flight during the TikTok boom in early 2020, veggi’s videos have garnered over 200 million views. With over 1.5 million fans across platforms, we wanted to see if his online fan base could bring it to a real venue, and he was certainly able to fill the late-night spot at Baby’s All right from wall to wall.
Eggy
Nothing says a balanced diet quite like eggs, gin, and a whole lotta jam. Jam heads and Phans alike packed into Brooklyn Bowl the weekend before Thanksgiving for a tri-state area hometown throwdown provided by local favorites Eggy and Stolen Gin. Walking into the Bowl, we could smell a blend of earthy notes and hints of patchouli carried mixing with the contagious energy of excitement, community, and intricate musical improvisations. It was neither band’s first performance at the venue this year, but it would most likely be both of their last, so the fans were pumped.
Razor Braids
Walking onstage in their signature red monochrome Western-themed ‘fits at Baby’s All Right, Razor Braids gripped audiences with their electrifying and dynamic performance of soulful rock ballads and infectious indie rock anthems like “Nashville” and “She.” Hollye Bynum (bass/lead vocals) and Jilly Karande (rhythm guitar/backing vocals) both showcased heartfelt vocal performances on ballads like “Megachurch,” and Sid Nichols (drums) and Janie Peacock (lead guitar) both impressed audiences with electrifying solos and punching rhythms throughout the set.
LEISURE
As we walked into The Hall at Elsewhere on November 16th, we immediately noticed a foliage-coated stage at the front of the room. One that, as it turned out, would create the perfect canvas for LEISURE’S wonderful Brooklyn show, a stop on their Leisurevision tour. As our anticipation grew, jungle sounds began reverberating through the venue, and the musicians, who were decked out in turtle necks and bucket hats, took to the stage.
The Pharcyde
Celebrating over 30 years of hip-hop, funky fresh, old school hip-hop group, The Pharcyde, brought down the house at Brooklyn Bowl last Thursday, showing NYC how LA gets down. It’s been over 30 years since the group dropped their critically acclaimed debut album, Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde, and their 2023 world tour was a continued celebration of the LP, with shows performed by three of the four rappers: Fatlip, Slimkid3, & Imani. From laid-back, jazzy beats to playful lyrics and even freestyle dance, you could tell this was a group of seasoned entertainers ready to tear the roof off.
Moon Taxi
Moon Taxi was on the New York leg of their “Set Yourself Free” tour, celebrating their 6th studio album, which was released after a remarkable 15-year journey in the music industry. The five-piece group’s latest album by the same name served as the musical backdrop for the evening. The record’s eclectic nature, which is defined by synthy pop vibes to bluegrass and folksy sounds, set the stage for a dynamic and genre-blurring live performance. As the group wove new tracks into the setlist, the live show provided testament to a Moon Taxi sound that stayed consistent even as the genre shifted.
Eric Krasno & Friends
Thanksgiving came early at Brooklyn Bowl, where Eric Krasno and WhyHunger Amplified teamed up for a specially curated charity benefit concert that made sure no groover was left musically famished. Providing critical resources to support grassroots movements and fuel community solutions, WhyHunger is an incredible non-profit organization working to end hunger and advance human rights to nutritious food in the U.S. and around the world.
Thundercat
Live music experiences are like a journey into another world, and on a chilly fall night in Brooklyn, Coco & Breezy and Thundercat took everyone on a musical ride at Brooklyn Mirage. With their unique blend of styles, these artists offered a night of unforgettable music that left the crowd in awe. Coco + Breezy, the twin DJ and fashion duo, kicked off the evening with a performance that showcased synchronization only twins can pull off. Their opening set was a mesmerizing introduction to what was to come.
Bahamas
Despite the quintessential NYC autumn rain, Bahamas drew a packed house to Brooklyn Bowl last Friday. Afie Jurvanen, the man behind Bahamas, first hit the scene in 2009 with his debut album Pink Strat. Since then, the Canadian musician has released five subsequent albums, hitting nodes of alternative folk, indie rock, and psychedelic soul along the way. His most recent album, BOOTCUT, blends country undertones and acoustic riffs to tell a series of seasoned stories.
