Kehlani @ The Louisville Palace - Louisville
September 23rd, 2024: Kehlani, FLO, Anycia @ The Louisville Palace - Louisville, KY
Kehlani | Photos courtesy of: Emily May
California artist Kehlani brought their Crash Tour to Louisville to a sold-out crowd of adoring fans on September 23rd. Having started their musical career over a decade ago, their music blends pop, soul, R&B, and Hip Hop elements. Being my first Kehlani concert, I wasn’t sure what to expect but was blown away by the whole experience. Mentioning that they hadn’t performed in Louisville since their very first tour, they told the crowd how good it was to be back and how cute and quaint the venue was, saying “I appreciate nights and moments like this. I haven’t played a show like this in a while (a smaller venue). It feels intimate and I can see your faces!”. On the stage this evening, starting at the back centre and going close to the front of the stage was a large staircase, with the stairs being rather wide, which they, their dancers, and bandmates spent time singing, playing instruments, and dancing on. There were tall platforms on each side of the stage, one for their guitarist and keyboard/keytar players and one for their drummer.
As their set began, Kehlani came out at the top of the stairs and spent the first song on the stairs. Starting the set with “Next 2 U”, “Groove Theory”, and “What I Want”, they performed a 31-song set this evening that encompassed older and newer songs. From the second song until the end of the set, each song they performed featured their incredibly talented dancers. Everyone was having fun on stage and Kehlani and their dancers incorporated various moods, from fun and upbeat dancing, with jumps and kicks and hair flips, to more sensual and slower dancing at times. It was a beautiful stage production with the fans dancing and singing along. Right off of the middle part of the stage was a small staircase that allowed Kehlani to go down into the crowd, which they did several times throughout the set, to walk amongst their fans while singing. This had their fans buzzing excitedly, smiling and with their phones out to record and take pictures of the moment. Kehlani and their fans have a mutual love and respect for each other, with fans singing and dancing along all evening, everywhere I looked. There was such a joyous energy in the air. Kehlani and their band gave 100% for all 31 songs and the crowd matched their energy. It was a magical evening of music. Opening the show this evening was British girl group FLO, who was impressed with their matching outfits, coordinated dance moves, and beautiful harmonies, as well as Atlanta ascending rapper Anycia, who got the crowd warmed up and hyped with her sharp beats!
FLO
Anycia
Khruangbin @ The Anthem - DC
September 23rd, 2024: Khruangbin, Arooj Aftab @ The Anthem - Washington, DC
Khruangbin | Photos Courtesy of: Nicole Cummings
Musical trio, Khruangbin played Washington D.C. on September 23 – the first night of their two sold-out shows at The Anthem. From Houston, Texas, Laura Lee, Mark Speer and DJ Johnson captivated the audience with their instrumental rock and psychedelic feel. Laura Lee always shows up with a great fashion look – this time dressed in pink from head to toe, she looked striking amid the fog and vibrant lights.
Hot Mulligan (Riot Fest Aftershow) @ Metro - Chicago
September 21st, 2024: Hot Mulligan @ Metro - Chicago, IL
Hot Mulligan | Photos Courtesy of: Allie Loven
Hot Mulligan visited Chicago, Illinois for Riot Fest weekend 2024. The Lansing-based band started their weekend by playing on the Cabaret Metro Stage on Friday evening. It finished off with a bang Saturday night, September 21, 2024, with a sold-out after-show held at Metro Chicago supported by fellow Midwest locals, New Age Thief. Pulling up to the venue, there was a line full of fans, waiting in suspense for the doors to open, wrapping around the building into the alley. Hot Mulligan has remained a Chicago pop-punk favorite over the past decade, so this was no surprise.
Up-and-coming opening pop-punk band, New Age Thief, definitely brought the surprise factor though. The duo Gino Savarino and Brady Corcoran are well-known in the Midwest as well from former music, but New Age Thief is the most recent and growing project he has been a part of. These members had the perfect way of setting the tone for Hot Mulligan’s performance. It is safe to say New Age Thief is already established in Chicago and seemingly more growth is coming each day, especially after their opening set on Saturday. By the end of New Age Thief, the crowd was non-stop moving and ready for Hot Mulligan.
Once Hot Mulligan was ready to take the stage, the room quickly started to pack in even tighter. Some fans travelled over 1,000 miles for this show specifically. For a band who has been non-stop touring and doing festivals, there was impressively no lack of energy to be found. From the front of the barricade to the balcony viewing, fans filled the room screaming along to a variety of Hot Mulligan songs. The band started with three of their songs from their 2016 Album Opportunities and continued on the night with 16 more of their top hits including: “Digging In,” “SPS,” “ *Equip Sunglasses*,” and many more. Hot Mulligan never fails to provide their following with lively, upbeat performances every time they touch the stage.
New Age Thief
Medium Build @ The Mann Center - Philadelphia
September 14th 2024: Medium Build @ The Mann Center - Philadelphia, PA
Medium Build - Photos Courtesy of Carolyn Lederach
Nicholas Carpenter, aka Medium Build, returned to Philly to play his largest crowd yet in our city. Coming off his headlining tour a few months back in support of his latest album, Country, we now find Nick opening for the one and only Rainbow Kitten Surprise. The setlist was a perfect intro to the Medium Build catalog for any new fans in the audience. For anyone like me who has gotten the pleasure of seeing all of Nick’s shows he’s played in Philly, his live show has only continued to grow better in comparison to the solo first show, to the duo set up with Nick and the man behind the keyboard, Paul Rogers. Now performing as a 4-piece you can truly embrace the music how it was intended. Despite Medium Build not being the headliner, there were folks scattered around the crowd you know were there to see MB, standing and screaming back the lyrics. I can’t wait to continue to see Medium Build grow and share his sentimental songs with the world.
Royel Otis @ HISTORY - Toronto
September 12th, 2024: Royel Otis @ HISTORY- Toronto, ON
Royel Otis | Photos Courtesy of: Peyton Mott
Stepping out onto the Toronto stage, HISTORY, the Australian power duo Royel Otis graced the eclectic crowd with a giant shrimp in tow. The pair fittingly made up of founding members, Royel Maddell and (the notoriously mysterious) Otis Pavlovic shot themselves to international fame with Billboard-ranked covers of The Cranberries, 'Linger" and the Saltburn classic, "Murder On The Dancefloor". While both covers are captivating and lovingly screamed along to during their set, their self-produced songs stand well on their own, the indie pop tunes like "Sofa King" and "Oysters In My Pocket" (hence the massive shrimp on stage) cement themselves as future classics in the genre. While Pavlaovic understandably hides his face from the public, his shredding fills the room more than any stage personality ever could, with Maddell filling in the blanks with charming smiles to the crowd. The tour runs across North America to late October and is a certifiable unmissable show.
Bikini Kill @ Brooklyn Paramount - Brooklyn
September 7th, 2024: Bikini Kill, Birthday Girl @ Brooklyn Paramount - Brooklyn, NY
Bikini Kill | Photos Courtesy of: Edwina Hay
On Saturday, September 7th, Bikini Kill began their two-night stand at Brooklyn Paramount in Brooklyn, NY. The influential punk band are wrapping up their summer tour and scheduled two nights in New York City at Brooklyn Paramount.
Brooklyn Paramount opened earlier this year, hosting live music in the space for the first time in nearly 50 years. The site is a former movie palace and was a sports venue up until the multi-million dollar renovation by Live Nation.
Starting the evening promptly at 8 PM was Brooklyn band Birthday Girl. The sextet warmed up the all-ages crowd, who mostly filled the main room despite numerous people standing in line to buy merchandise or still arriving at the show. Singer/songwriter Eva Smittle cited the headlining act as an influence and expressed appreciation to the band for adding them to this exciting bill.
Bikini Kill then appeared on stage shortly after 9 PM with Kathleen Hanna starting their set with the powerful lyric, “We’re Bikini Kill, and we want revolution girl style now!” and beginning “Double Dare Ya.” The quartet, also comprised of Tobi Vail, Kathi Wilcox, and Sara Landeau opened with BK’s earliest material (“Carnival,” “New Radio,” and “Don’t Need You”) before visiting songs from their full-length records, Pussy Whipped and Reject All American. With no new material to promote, the band played everything old to the delight of everyone in attendance. The audience sang along and danced throughout the whole show with members rotating roles on songs. Tobi left the drum kit to sing “Distinct Complicity,” “Hamster Baby,” and “Tell Me So” with Kathi or Sara taking over drum duties and Kathleen moving over to play bass. Their set concluded with ”Suck My Left One,” “Jigsaw Youth” and a one-song encore of “Rebel Girl” which is now a timeless anthem.
Bikini Kill disbanded in 1997 and was a band that I never imagined witnessing live one day, especially as someone who discovered them towards the end of their life. Before beginning, “I Like Fucking,” Kathleen shared that she never wanted to play that song before their breakup but now she finds joy in it. Being in a room where mostly everyone is singing along and enjoying music made by four badass women truly is a joyful experience and I’m extremely grateful for Bikini Kill and that gift.
Birthday Girl
Polaris @ Emo's - Austin
September 3rd, 2024: Polaris, BlessTheFall @ Emo's- Austin, TX
Polaris | Photos Courtesy of: Bernadette Castillo
I was so excited to be able to photograph this tour stop at Emo’s here in Austin, TX; I’ve heard of both BlessTheFall and Polaris as metalcore mainstays, but hadn’t seen either of them live, and knew it was going to be an incredible show!
I don’t remember the last time I saw a frontman as charismatic and engaged with the crowd as BlessTheFall’s Beau Bokan. You could tell that the crowd was ecstatic to see the band and it was a really beautiful thing to witness just how into their show the crowd was.
Admittedly, I am more familiar with Polaris’ music, and what a treat it was to get to see them play live! The lead vocalist, Jamie Hails, displays such range with his screams - the lows and highs were so powerful to see in person. The musicianship of the band was impeccable, these guys are truly masters at what they do. (I’d also be remiss to mention that last June, their guitarist, Ryan Siew, passed - and while I wish I would have been able to see him play live; it’s clear he’s dearly missed).
My absolute favorite shows to see and photograph is metal and metalcore; I feel like there is often this preconceived notion about how ‘aggressive’ it is, and while sure, there’s bound to be moshpits - all the metal shows I’ve been to, and especially this one; there’s such a positive energy, with the band and crowd looking out for each other and taking care of one another.
BlessTheFall
Incubus @ Moody Center - Austin
September 7th, 2024: Incubus, Coheed and Cambria - Morning View Tour @ Moody Center - Austin, TX
Incubus | Photos Courtesy of: Bernadette Castillo
Incubus has been one of my favorite bands since I first heard Morning View as a teen; that album got me through my adolescence, and to this day is one of my favorite albums of all time, so the chance to cover this show here in Austin was so very special. This band, and this album in particular, is important to me.
There was a lot of anticipation for this tour, particularly with this tour lineup alongside Coheed and Cambria - and the Moody Center had a packed house from the start! I’ve never seen Coheed live before, and they were mesmerizing to watch getting to hear the intricacies of their music in their songs live was awesome.
Ahead of this tour, Incubus released a re-recording of Morning View, originally released in 2001. Upon listening to Morning View XXIII, I thought that it sounded close to their live sound (I’ve been lucky enough to see them live a few times), but after last night, I think that statement doesn’t do this band justice. The guys have been in a band together for over 30 years. They are incredible musicians individually in their own right - and the addition of Nicole Row as bassist, including her backing vocals, brings an extra layer to their live sound. Brandon Boyd’s vocals are strong, and it’s impressive that he is still hitting a lot of the same notes as he could 20+ years ago.
This was such a special show, and getting to hear the crowd sing along to every word is one of my favorite things about concerts, especially when they’re lyrics to an album I’ve grown up listening to.
Coheed and Cambria
