Pockets of people danced barefoot on the concrete, piling up their shoes, tossing their bags, and stomping on the rooftop. There was something about Shakey Graves’s music that was so raw, so human, that it elicited movement.

Kiszka is a special voice in the current of music. He is the birth of something new while being a timeless looking-glass through the past of rock n’ roll. Though, comparing him to anyone feels sinful, for he and his band are carving their own realm of rock. He is the starcatcher, an earth-rocker.

Dominant, messy, tuneful piano notes mixed with crisp and punctual percussion, all led by the melody of Rose’s violin strings, made for a distinct foundation for their collective musicality. If the emotional sensation of longing could be a sound, it would be The Head And The Heart song.

Electronic music gets wrapped with the stigma of being synthetic and repetitive. Goth Babe’s sound strongly defies this tired narrative. The blend of guitar strings, light chimes, and elemental melodies composes a natural almost healing sound.

Honesty is celebratory, and young women are writing about having their hearts ripped out, leaving their hometown, stepping into their strength, growing up and into their bodies. About existing as more than empathetic vessels, but as a beacon of feminine independence.

If there’s one thing The Paper Kites is, it is consistent – consistently impressive. With a memorable setlist it can become difficult to entertain returning fans, but The Paper Kites routinely delivers a unique listening experience that bends the confines of genre labels through experimentation and passion.

While his music didn’t warrant an explosion of energetic dance, it offered a more reflective service. Crowd members gently swayed, held themselves and others, and listened with their noses tipped upwards towards the stage trying to hear and uncover the sheet draped over each lyric.

Fans of Gregory’s music held a poetic stoicism to them. With their respect for esteemed lyricism and intentional instrumentals, the crowd devoted their attention to every filament of sound that came from the stage.

Johnson asked if the crowd minded if they played something new. The audience welcomed the proposition with open arms and open minds, as they listened to the fresh record. He sang of “proverbial shame,” “chosen family,” and the thread of most albums “love.”

Yumi’s arms flailed into the air and swarmed across the koto strings. Her hands looked so natural. How new spring branches dance from the body of a tree. One couldn’t help but pay attention to their physical show, it almost seemed inhuman, the way they moved. Or perhaps it was the most human thing a person can do, devote their bodies to their instruments and their sound

In between songs, he conversed and told stories about band memories in New York City. Laska reminisced, “New York City is special to us, we wrote our first record in this damn city! We’ll be coming back forever.” This led to Valley announcement of their new record Lost In Translation, set to release on June 23rd.

The bandmates jumped around, did high-knees, skipped in circles, and danced all while impressively maintaining the breath to sing their fast paced songs. The audience reciprocated their energy, jumping in a playful folk-version of a mosh pit, locking arms to do a makeshift line dance, and extending their hands in way of a physical sort of praise.

The song’s lyrics preached the paradoxical sweet violence of young love, as did many of the songs on his setlist. JAWNY’s lyrics pay ode to the blissful oblivion of being young and the tumultuous and continuous transition into the awareness that’s only awarded to a person by time.

Quinn XCII has been around for a lot of listeners since their grade school days. To grow up with an artist is a very intimate experience. To listen to Quinn as an adult is like getting a second chance at growing up again in your twenties.

It’s difficult to be truly unique in the music industry, to not fall into the coddle of a niche, to not be a genre artist. HOKO has taken the liberty of demolishing musical barriers, and redefining flexibility in relation to their production.

Classic-rock married to indie, The Academic has mastered the art of the guitar. Their Irish origin gifted them with the ever presence of rock and roll, and since their neighbors in the U.K. never parted ways with the music genre like America did for a while, they had continuous exposure to the evolution of rock.

The space was alive with electronic grooving and loving embraces. There was no choice but to dance with strangers, because FRENSHIP’s music undeniably surfaces a kindness within those listening.

Chelsea was left in awe of the crowd’s involvement with her show and expressed multitudes of gratitude. New York City was just the start of the tour, and a sold out double-header at Hammerstein Ballroom is an encouraging glimpse into the future of Chelsea Cutler’s music career and an affirmation of her talents.

Each song threaded a narrative with unique lyrics. In the span of the mere hour long set, we were pulled from New York City, to Montauk, to Florida, to the French countryside. With strong influences from the ocean, surfing, relationships, and the seasons changing, Trezza holds an earthy and empathetic discography.