Hailing from the island of New Zealand, Indie Pop duo Broods has been making quite a splash in the last couple of years. Consisting of a brother-sister combo of Caleb and Georgia Nott, in 2014 the buzz surrounding the young musicians reached a new level after supporting Sam Smith on tour for many sold out shows. Already attaining gold status with their debut full-length album Evergreen, released in August of last year via Capitol Records, 2015 brings the act back to North America for an early spring tour. Allowing audiences a chance to indulge in a larger dose of what they have to offer, the North American headlining tour garnished an overwhelming response. The response was so positive the addition of a second New York City show, after selling out March 23rd at Music Hall Of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, was added for Wednesday the 25th at Irving Plaza. Bringing along Erick Hassle as support, night two in the city that never sleeps ended up being another sell out and one concert goers would soon not forget.
Commencing the night in style was singer-songwriter Hassle. Originally from Stockholm, Sweden, the vocalist now resides in California and continues to build a strong name for himself since his 2009 debut record Hassle. Most recently releasing the EP Somebody’s Party in 2014 via RCA Records, Hassle received critical acclaim for his work and was celebrated during a series of sold out shows in support of MØ. Heavily influenced by Soul, Hassle’s brand of music is an interesting mix of danceable songs laced with powerful vocals.
As he came out full of energy, Hassle set the tone immediately with heavy bass and loud trap snares in the background that grabbed the audience’s attention. With only a microphone, Hassle was accompanied by a DJ providing infectious beats as he played tracks like “What is He Like.” The warm inflections in his voice are reminiscent of Soul vocalists of yesteryear and his dance moves were nothing short of on-point with the groove of the performance. Paying homage to the artists which clearly inspire Hassle’s singing, a highlight of the set came when he picked up an electric guitar and went into a fantastic bluesy rendition of Sam Cooke’s “Nothing Can Change This Love.” Nothing short of cool, collected, and confident, Hassle had the crowd in the palm of his hand as he went into more original tracks, such as fan-favorites “Pathetic” and “Talk About It.” There is something refreshing and fun about Hassle’s music that mainstream audiences should soon devour on a more grand scale. Stay tune for more live performances from the singer as he supports Twin Shadow through the end of April.
After such a delightful opening act the jam packed Irving Plaza were loosened up and ready for Broods. Dubbed one of the “Artists You Need to Listen to in 2015” by Huffington Post, Broods are perhaps one of the most talked about acts on the scene right now. With Georgia only twenty years old and brother Caleb only twenty-two, one has to wonder if they are ready for the success that is ahead of them. Keeping a level-head through the whirlwind, Caleb has stated “We’re in the moment, and we’re focused on making it special every time.” Subscribing to an equally mature ideology, Georgia has said “We’re not taking any of this for granted.” With the perspective of far more seasoned musicians, their talents speak greater volumes and it is no wonder audiences are clamoring to see them in every city they hit, including none other than the Big Apple.
Opening their set with the tranquil lead single off Evergreen entitled “Never Gonna Change,” everyone attentively listened to Georgia as her smooth vocals soared. With Caleb providing the atmospheric instrumentation, the two were joined by a live drummer on stage, which only added force and potency to the music. Following up with more emotional tracks like “Everytime,” “Sleep Baby Sleep,” “Killing You,” and album title tune “Evergreen,” Broods took Irving Plaza to a different stratosphere as they recreated their music flawlessly live. With a clean delivery Georgia’s voice did not waver and remained vital throughout a set that even included a newer track entitled “Bedroom Door.” Becoming the obsession of many fans since they first introduced the track, hopes are a studio recording of it will become available for purchase soon.
Continuing their performance with the dreamy song “Medicine” a new level of connection could be felt, which all the spectators shared as one. Completely focused on the angelic singing of Georgia, along with the echoing beat Caleb provided, had everyone put down their phones and lock in on the moment, opposed to recording video. Receiving a roar of applause, the musicians humbly and graciously smiled, flowing into the more upbeat “Bridges.” Keeping the element of surprise strong, Broods played another non-album song titled “Deep End” which possessed a feel no one could resist bopping along with. Pushing the limit, by the end of the song Georgia became more amplified vocally while nailing the notes above and beyond any exception. While Georgia spent most of the performance in the spotlight, Caleb’s supporting vocals and pin-point delivery of the music are the backbone of Broods. Winding down their set with more favorites such as “Pretty Thing,” “L.A.F.,” and “Coattails,” had this crowd hungry for more as they cheered at the top of their lungs. Answering the call in bold fashion Broods performed a two song encore of “Superstar” and hit single “Mother & Father.” The latter is a song many find connection with lyrically on a personally level. Looking around the floor of Irving Plaza, while some danced, others were seen singing along, but all were taking the final moments of the show to heart.
Broods prove to be an act that can handle a headlining tour in glowing fashion. Their composure on stage and ability to keep the momentum flowing through an extended set was remarkable. Clearly ecstatic to be in New York City, Georgia expressed that sentiment best when at one point during the night she said “I am getting paid to do what I love.” Wise words from a vocalist who understands that nothing is a given, and Broods are certainly making the most of it all. While the tour is now concluded, chances are high New Zealand’s Broods will be on the road again very soon, most likely to play in front of even larger sold out crowds.
No comment