Recent Concert Reviews

Black Midi — July 21, 2022 — Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA

Photo by P Squared via www.brooklynvegan.com

My second time seeing Black Midi, an explosive and exciting experimental rock band out of London, was quite the show. While the venue left a lot to be desired, the energy the band brought made up for it. Fresh off releasing their third LP 'Hellfire' just a week earlier, the band put their new songs on display for all of us in the cramped confines of the Paradise Rock Club. I was thankful to have a spot up on the mezzanine which let me avoid the crowd right in front of the band that moshed for most of the show, only pausing for the rare slower song. Black Midi shows are filled with a tremendous amount of energy, and if you're into fast tempos and complex songs, definitely see them when they come by. If you're looking to see what their music is like, I'd recommend their most recent album 'Hellfire' to start with, then their first two albums if you're still interested.

Lingua Ignota — May 11, 2022 — The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA

Photo by @noisefloorphoto

American neoclassical darkwave and noise artist Kristen Hayter AKA Lingua Ignota came to Boston this past May and played The Sinclair. I love this venue, it has plenty of space and is very conducive to a live show, especially one as enrapturing as Lingua Ignota's. Her music can range from ethereally beautiful to brutally violent and her commanding stage presence carries every ounce of energy she puts into it into the audience. The audience for this show was hands down the most respectful I have ever seen at a live show. From the moment she came on stage to when she finished her final song, the audience was silent and respectful of the performance. The night culminated in her final song, a haunting and ethereal cover of Dolly Parton's 'Jolene' with just her voice and a piano that had various metal objects laid out on top of the strings to create this brittle and rattling soundscape. Definitely an amazing show that I would love to be able to see again. If you're interested in checking her music out, I'd recommend listening to her most recent album 'Sinner Get Ready' as it is her most accessible album.

Ichiko Aoba — October 25, 2022 — Crystal Ballroom, Somerville, MA

via ichikoaoba.com

Japanese folk artist Ichiko Aoba stopped by the Crystal Ballroom in Somerville this past October during her first U.S. tour. This was my first time in the Crystal Ballroom and the venue was mostly good, but the stage could have been a little bit higher to let more people see, especially given that Ichiko Aoba sits down while she plays guitar, but the sound of the show more than made up for it. Her style of beautiful flowing folk music that occasionally branches into other styles, like the song Kikaijikake No Ucyuu which incorporates a gorgeous Spanish-styled guitar section that serves as the anchor of the 12 and half minute track. Her voice and guitar flow together incredibly well, creating an idyllic soundscape that conjures images of a soft flowing stream in the early days of summer. She is definitely an artist not to miss whenever she returns to the States in the future. I would recommend her 2020 album 'Windswept Adan' if her music sounds appealing to you, followed by 2013's '0'.