CONCERTS I WENT TO IN JULY + AUGUST

i dont really like that people in concerts are always trying to get to the front of the line, and I dont like that theres always a tall person in front of you, and i dont like that you cant really dance to the music or sing along too much. I would never go to an arena show... You're so far away from the performance! Sometimes, I would rather buy the album and listen at home over going to a concert.
that being said... i am grateful to live in a city where there is a new concert every day, with pop-ups and exclusive happenings happening at so many different venues, all within range of where I live. i ended up going to more concerts and live music performances than expected this summer, and im not mad at it. I like hanging out with my friends, and i like music, and i had a pretty good time at all of these shows.

LADY LAND MUSIC FESTIVAL

music festivals are honestly a lot for me but i ended up scoring a ticket to LADYLAND this year and it was a very fun, queer focused evening of sweat, rain and lots of gum. I got to see Julia Fox perform songs in front of Jacoby Satterwhite Visuals, I got to see Tokischa and ARCA together (update SEPT23 - they released a song together <3) and Madonna was there, which is a once in a lifetime thing. i was very satisfied when i left

RA.VEN @GOOD ROOM

Kelela took over Good Room by filling it with her favorite DJs and collaborators. The space has 2 rooms, and it was cool to see her popping in and out of the rooms, grabbing the mic and performing with the DJs. the place was packed sardines boots, but somehow nobody seemed to care - the movement of all the bodies contributed to the emotional goals of the event - creating a club space that is ACTIVE and sensual, but not too sensual. everyone was so nice, and this is why i like going to clubs more than concert spaces - you can dance more freely, and it you bump into someone its not the end of the world, and the experience in general is more immersive and fulfilling.

WARM UP @ MOMA PS1

This was cute... but i probably wouldnt go again. I enjoyed that the museum was open for most of the performance, so you can take a break and enter the museum and see what is on display. The PS1 courtyard is Huge, but the turnout was also huge, so you will have some trouble moving if youre smack in the middle of the crowd. They throw around these inflatable balls that keep hitting unsuspecting people. Luckily we had friends that showed up before we did, and they claimed space on the stairs.we were a bit elevated from the 99% of the crowd that wasnt on the stairs, and we were able to sit on them too, which made the experience more comfortable. guys working the event were power crazy, like why would you raise your voice at guests who are trying to leave instead of guiding them to the exit? its nice to be nice. the sound system was great, the music was great, and it was expecially great to go to an event that wasnt overnight - i think the festivities ended at 10.

EARTHEATER @ MOMA

I wasnt an Eartheater stan before this show so I honestly just wasnt as excited to be there. on top of that, the show, which is supposed to take place in the MOMA Courtyard, got moved inside due to rain. had to wait forever for staff to get that sorted out, and we almost didnt get in because the line was so long. We luckily got passed through as soon as the show started, but we were in the back back back. this is fine, but since the ground isnt elevated, you can only see what was right infront of you (the back of someone's head). i closed my eyes and listened through the speakers or most of the performance. She did sound nice inside, but i ultimately wish I didnt go. ** I was supposed to see JLIN at the same place 2 weeks later - that was supposed to be outside as well, but instead of moving it inside due to rain, they cancelled it entirely.**

TIRZAH @ KNOCKDOWN CENTER

Im kind of obsessed with Tirzah so i was excited to see her perform, and i dont really know what i was expecting, but i didnt hate it, but i didnt love it either. I loved the lineup - PureLink opening, followed by Loraine James, and Tirzah headlining. I loved her tee shirt she was selling as merch, i love that she showed up wearing sweatpants and there was a couch on stage, it was really giving NOTHING in a way that was chic and fabulous. She performed her album Trip9love...?, and i think she did a god job performing, but the album itself doesnt sounds very good live. her voice was rather quiet, and i think if she wanted to belt into the microphone she could have, but this would probably contradict the lowkey aesthetic of her music, becuase shes so cool and calm in her performance. but its whatever because she literally did the whole album plus a few other songs <3 she did Reach Hi! thats my favorite songgggg, and i do think the songs she performed from Devotion + Colourgrade sounded a lot better live.

SUMMER FOR THE CITY @ LINCOLN CENTER

I dont even remember how I ended up going here. My friends invited me because the theme of this day-long music festival was Latin American women in Music. Fabulous, plus it was free for everyone in a more family oriented part of town. The space was well organized, the cocktail was only ten dollars, and the closing act was BELEL GILBERTO which is kind of huge... I didnt know any of the other acts but but i honestly didnt need to, they all sounded beautiful, and the night went from club vibes in the beginning to a more traditional concert setting as the sun came down (i was introduced to ILE and Buscabulla, both sounded so lively and festive) , and finished with a really nice lounge vibe, where people of all ages are just chilling in fron to of the stage, walking around, relaxing in the chairs, and i got to spend the whole day with my friends. Lincoln center is far AF. but i would absolutely invite everybody to go to something like this next year. it was during the day, free, and an all ages afair happening away from the craziness of bushwick, it honestly reminded me of some of the commnity concerts that i would go to in Florida.

PELADA @ KNOCKDOWN CENTER

I won tickets to see PELADA in a contest that my friend told me to sign up for (oh my rockness is not a scam yall). i got to see Pelada a few weeks ago at Bossa Nova for a dj set, and it was good, but i didnt know anything about them at the time and i was tired and im really not trying to be seen at bossa nova like that LOLL. I played their last album twice before going to the concert, and i have to say their performance was very electric and fierce! the singer screams about revolution and capitalism and police brutality to a large croud (in Spanish) over some beats. but the beats go from punk to free jazz to trance, and she singer is screaming into the mic the whole time, and you honestly just get kind of lost in all of it. I was really grateful that i got to go to this becuase it was their LAST show ever... the band is breaking up. i got to buy a vinyl record from the lead singer Chris, and i thought about how my friend Ben invited me to see Pelada do a DJ set, and my friend Jesus told me to enter a contest to see them perform their final show ever, and it made me feel grateful for the commnunity i have, and it shows how powerful a community can be! I wouldnt have known about this band if it wasnt for friends to introduce me. this concert took place at the knockdown center and i feel like every time i go there i unlock some new part of it, because i havent gone to an outdoor event there before. its such a nice venue, not tooo big, not too small, tons of places to lounge as the music plays.