Helado Negro Makes It Look Easy at Webster Hall

Helado Negro – Webster Hall – April 24, 2024

At some point in nearly every song he played on Wednesday night before a packed Webster Hall, Roberto Carlos Lange — best known as Helado Negro — would dance. Sometimes it was a little shimmy in front of the microphone stand while still singing, other times, a full move to the front of the stage, and in all cases fully capturing the sultry groove of the music while still looking relaxed and cool. Easier said than done, but that was the energy in the club from the get-go, Helado Negro keeping the crowd both chill and moving and making it look easy all the while.  

The set opened with “Colores Del Mar,” the first of many selections off his brand-new release, Phasor, the backing band of Jason Nazary on drums and Andy Stack on bass and guitar creating a lush soundscape with complex rhythms, setting the tone for an understated, joyful midweek dance party. After the syncopated groove of “I Just Want to Wake Up with You,” Lange mixed in some of his older material, much to the crowd’s delight. “Gemini and Leo,” was a fantasy of electro-groove under hot pink and purple lights, lush hypnotic vocals that urged the audience to sing along. It’s tough to get a crowded room to sing along and keep it hushed and soft, but, once more, he made it look easy. 

Sonically, Nazary and Stack were as much of a focus as Lange’s soft-step melodies, dreamlike twinkles of guitar on “Hometown Dream,” intricate cowbell-driven drum patterns on “Echo Tricks Me,” wide undulating bass on “Out There.” It’s not easy to build momentum in a set while making the music softer and quieter, but again, they made it look easy, the set expertly drawing to a whisper from the flaky-layered musical pastry of “Best for You and Me” to the Bowie-esque croon of “Wish You Could Be Here,” and finally finishing with the on-tippy-toes dreamlike “Esa Una Fantasia.” And even as it ended at its quietest, the audience was at their energy peak, chanting wildly for an encore, Lange obliging with four more songs, going singer-songwriter with his own guitar on “Sabane de Luz” and “Pais Nublado,” the crowd singing along, light and lovely, in Spanish, before drawing things to a close with “We Don’t Have Time for That.” Easy does it. —A. Stein | @Neddyo

(Helado Negro plays The Sinclair in Cambridge, Mass., tomorrow.)

(Helado Negro plays Underground Arts in Philly on Sunday.)

Photos courtesy of Savannah Lauren | @savannahlaurenphoto

Girl in Red – Radio City Music Hall – April 24, 2024

Norwegian singer-songwriter girl in red began posting music online when she was just a teen — and people quickly took notice. After putting out a pair of well-received EPs, her debut LP, the bedroom-pop-filled If I Could Make It Go Quiet, came out in 2021.

Last year she was one of the openers on Taylor Swift’s massive tour, and a couple weeks ago, girl in red dropped her second studio album, I’m Doing It Again Baby, again receiving glowing reviews.

On Wednesday, just three nights into the North American tour in support of the new album, girl in red was happily greeted by a packed Radio City Music Hall.

Photos courtesy of Ellen Qbertplaya | @qbertplaya

Yola Brings New Music to Racket on Friday Night

Yola – Racket – April 19, 2024

With an EP, My Way, on the way, Yola — born in Bristol, England, based in Nashville, Tenn. — headed out on a short tour of smaller rooms to preview the new music in an intimate setting, which brought her to Racket on Friday. (Meanwhile, my show-going has drastically decreased since March 2020, and somewhere along the way I realized I’d become a pandemic centaur: half man, half couch. It’s not that I’m afraid to go out, it’s just that I’ve grown very comfortable (pronounced: lazy) seated at home. But since Friday was Yola’s second night at Racket and the last night of her tour, I got up and walked over to the Meatpacking District.) 

I already knew that Yola is a fantastic songwriter and a powerhouse singer, but when it comes to her guitar playing, well, I’m like that Shaq apology meme. She can rip it. Backed by a gifted four-piece (guitar, bass, keys and drums), she took the stage armed with a guitar and launched into “Barely Alive.” “Starlight” followed, Yola crooning, “Wanna feel goooooood” resonating across the room. Without the guitar, she danced joyfully during “Dancing Away in Tears,” which seamlessly segued into “Now You’re Here,” the fourth song off her sophomore LP, Stand for Myself.

It turns out that Yola is also a great host, the kind who introduces you to the new friends you haven’t yet met at a party. “How you dooooooooing?” she greeted the enthusiastic crowd. “Every time I play you a new song, I’m gonna tell you about it.” And that’s exactly what she did for the next hour-plus: She sang, she danced, she vibed, she entertained, she was wildly funny.  

Yola introduced new song “Temporary” by mentioning that “fuckboys are the genre of person who have a very specific use.” She offered, “This next one is about an epiphany I had when I was dating. You go and meet someone and sit down and one minute, two minutes, three minutes … and you realize you’ve met a future enemy, a sleeper-cell nemesis” before the aptly titled “Future Enemies.”

They went back-and-forth between old and new (in a departure from her first two LPs filled with R&B-fueled soulful Americana with bits of gospel and rock in the mix, the new leans more toward synth-pop and progressive R&B) and after a short encore break, Yola and Co. returned to play covers of Anita Baker’s “Sweet Love,” Yarbrough and Peoples’ “Don’t Stop the Music” and Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” — the dancing crowd handling the “Oh, no, let’s go” duties — before ending with one last new song, the joyous “Ready.” 

“Goodnight, I’m Yola. Take care,” she said, blowing kisses to the crowd, leaving everyone smiling — and reminding us that life is best lived off the couch. —R. Zizmor | @hand_dog

Photos courtesy of Toby Tenenbaum | @tobytenenbaum

Cypress Hill – Brooklyn Steel – April 19, 2024

On just the second night of their We Legalized It Tour, beloved Southern California hip-hop group Cypress Hill cut loose at a very enthusiastic, sold-out Brooklyn Steel on Saturday night.

Photos courtesy of Adela Loconte | www.adelaloconte.com

Real Estate Bring New Music Home to a Sold-Out Webster Hall

Real Estate – Webster Hall – April 18, 2024

New Jersey natives Martin Courtney and Alex Bleeker have been producing upbeat, jangly melodies as Real Estate for more than a decade. Known for their breezy lamentations on suburbia, the band contributed original songs for the 2019 rom-com Plus One starring Jack Quaid and Maya Erskine. Their latest release, Daniel, continues their canon of cheery tunes with a country tinge, as it was recorded at the famed RCA Studio A  in Nashville, Tenn. The suburban ennui transfers to a perfect soundtrack for a cross-country road trip.

Longtime fans were delighted to have their local boys back as the quintet hit a sold-out Webster Hall on Thursday night for a homecoming show, playing largely from the recent record. They opened with its lead track, “Somebody New.” Real Estate played older favorites “Green Aisles” and “Saturday” early but newer songs from Daniel garnered equal applause. There’s a playfulness that adds to the band’s charm, like the life-size Danny Devito cutout manning the merch booth and their cheeky way of honoring famous Daniels. (Before putting out Daniel, they had been highlighting famous Daniels beginning in December with Daniel Radcliffe and this month with Anthony Daniels.) 

Adding to the whimsy, Bleeker requested the disco ball be activated for “Haunted World,” and despite a delayed start, it cast a glitter across the room. Admittedly a New Jersey band, Courtney confirmed that “Talking Backwards” was their only song recorded in Manhattan and hoped to record more in the future. The set sped along quickly as everyone was having a great time and soon “Darling” was declared the last song. But it wasn’t a surprise when Real Estate returned for an encore with Bleeker’s throbbing basslines on “Friday” and his lead vocals on “Victoria.”  They capped off the show with fan-favorite “It’s Real,” ushering folks into the late night with an extra bounce in their step.  —Sharlene Chiu | @Shar0ck

Photos courtesy of Savannah Lauren | @savannahlaurenphoto

Allah-Las Leave Them Wanting More at Webster Hall on Wednesday Night

Alla-Las – Webster Hall – April 17, 2024

In this age of lasers, massive LED screens, backing tracks and effect-laden synthesizers, a no-frills concert can feel like the bolder statement. Playing a packed Webster Hall on a rainy Wednesday night, Los Angeles rockers Allah-Las were decidedly no frills, lo-fi and all the better for it. The band lead off with “The Stuff,” the opening track off last year’s Zuma 85 release, almost purely rhythm with a steady drumbeat, the jangliest of guitars and understated monotone vocals. A pair of small screens bracketed the stage with analog slide projectors displaying simple abstract shapes, few frills, plenty of rock with a short surf-guitar solo to end the first tune. 

From there, they bounced around their catalog, short-but-sweet garage rock evoking a bygone era when a pair of guitars, drums, bass and keys — and a headlong spirit — would suffice to get a club moving. “Tell Me (What’s on Your Mind)” opened with an extended noodling instrumental before dropping into a straight-heat love song. As the set went on, the projections took on more colors and shapes matching an evolving sound: Warm orange for the vocal harmonies, crisp blue for the tight changes, abstract squiggles of guitar and splotches of bass and drums. 

Lead vocals were passed around from guitarists Miles Michaud and Matthew Correia to drummer Pedrum Siadatianon the dreamy psychedelia of “Prazer em Te Conhecer” off 2019’s LAHS release. Like any good rock band playing Webster Hall, Allah-Las made excellent use of the disco ball, adding an otherworldly feel to the surfy desert blues of “Sacred Sands” and a sun-dappled effect to the layered, lazy melodies of “Catalina.” The set closed with a cover of Mazzy Star’s “Blue Flower,” the lyrics “Superstar in your own private movie / I just wanted a minor part” perfectly nestling between the band’s irresistible low-key vibe and the large, cheering crowd calling for more. —A. Stein | @Neddyo

(Allah-Las play Underground Arts in Philadelphia tomorrow.)  

Photos courtesy of Adela Loconte | www.adelaloconte.com

Sir Chloe – Music Hall of Williamsburg – April 13, 2024

After putting out a host of singles, Sir Chloe’s highly anticipated debut full-length, I Am the Dog, arrived last May, earning plaudits from fans and critics alike: “Along with a twangy, soft-loud art-punk sound that evokes the influence of ’90s icons like the Pixies and Hole,” raves AllMusic, “Sir Chloe have a knack for crafting sharp-tongued anthems that are often built around the struggle between the ego and the id, or more specifically, the human and the animal.” On Saturday at a sold-out Music Hall of Williamsburg, the Vermont five-piece kicked off a two-night run.

(Sir Chloe play The Sinclair in Cambridge, Mass., on Wednesday.)

(Sir Chloe play Fête Music Hall’s Ballroom in Providence, R.I., on 5/29.)

(Sir Chloe play Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park, N.J., on 6/2.)

Photos courtesy of Adela Loconte | www.adelaloconte.com

INIKO – Webster Hall – April 13, 2024

Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist INIKO was back in NYC on Saturday night for a hometown headlining show at Webster Hall.

Photos courtesy of DeShaun Craddock | dac.photography

Mariah the Scientist – Terminal 5 – April 13, 2024

More than halfway into the North American tour in support of her third long-player, last fall’s To Be Eaten Alive, rising R&B star Mariah the Scientist had everyone at a sold-out Terminal 5 eating out of her hand on Saturday night.

(Mariah the Scientist plays Rams Head Live! in Baltimore tonight.)

(Mariah the Scientist plays The National in Richmond, Va., tomorrow.)

(Mariah the Scientist plays The NorVa in Norfolk, Va., on Wednesday.)

Photos courtesy of Toby Tenenbaum | @TobyTenenbaum

Connor Price – Webster Hall – April 11, 2024

He got his start in the entertainment world as a child actor, appearing in a slew of movies and TV shows, but Toronto native Connor Price — inspired by Donald Glover — has been doing his own thing as a rapper for more than five years now, especially finding time to devote to it during the pandemic.

Making his way across North America, out on his first-ever headlining tour, he sold out Webster Hall on Thursday night.

Photos courtesy of Ken Grand-Pierre | www.kenamiphoto.com