On Sunday night Small Black headlined Bowery Ballroom in support of the release of their newly released Real People EP. Snowmine opened before them, but it felt more like a co-headlining slot than anything else; as one could argue that people were equally as excited that both Brooklyn-based bands got to share the stage.
Snowmine opened the night and nearly stole the show. I’ve heard only good things about their live show from various trustworthy sources, and all of it was the truth. The band are the real deal live. They create lush melodies and hooks with ease, using the quiet spaces between the cracks of their songs to their advantage just as much as the electronic-based wonders that they deliver. They know how to use their voices and arrangements with delicate ease, while also finding ways to push things forward with powerful melodies that are devastatingly sweeping. I left very, very, impressed by Snowmine, and the whole room was going nuts for them. The band broke a few big smiles seeming to be genuinely humbled by it all. Their new album Dialects was released this year.
Small Black were next and they were another band I have been meaning to see live all these years but just never got around to it. It was a long overdue and the band had me quite impressed by the end of the night. Seeing them live is a bit of a different experience when compared to their recorded material, as different elements – mainly jazz-inspired – push through. Frontman Josh Kolenik was an energetic force on stage, moving around enthusiastically from start to finish. The band as a whole showed off a polished sound, a band far removed from the days of them being labeled as a “chillwave band” (a truly ridiculous notion).
A highlight of the night for me was “Despicable Dogs”, (off their debut EP) the first song I ever heard from them. They also offered up a cool cover of Scottish group The Blue Nile’s “The Downtown Lights.” “No Stranger” was the crowd-favorite, and for good reason. It’s an absolute triumph live, a full explosion of everything that the band stand for and then some. Pure joy.
There were plenty of good vibes shared between both Small Black and Snowmine, a double bill that I wouldn’t mind getting to see again. It was as good of a Sunday night as one could ask.
Find photos of both Small Black and Snowmine posted below.
Small Black:
Snowmine:
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