Girl at the Rock Shows

Not only was I celebrating my 100th show of the year on Tuesday night, but I was also celebrating my 101st show of the year. That’s right, Tuesday was a double header kind of night and, although my day job has been insane this week which means this week was probably not the best to double up the work I have to do when it comes to reviews, I just couldn’t resist the chance to not only see a stellar local showcase at the 7th Street Entry, but also catch a legendary British alt-rock band.

Before I get to that band, let’s chat quickly about the opening act– Dream, Ivory. Dream, Ivory is a duo consisting of brothers Christian and Louie Baello, but came in the form of a trio on Tuesday night for their performance at the legendary First Avenue mainroom. I truthfully don’t know that I have ever seen a band with a sound that fits their band name so perfectly. Everything that Dream, Ivory played seemed to create this atmospheric kind of dreamscape that was so easy to get lost in, but, at the same time, there was something royal about it (which, in my mind, leans into “Ivory” portion of the band name). Although I’m sure this is not at all how they came up with their band name, I loved the idea that everything about this band was so intentional and on point and brand for them.

I’ll be honest, Dream, Ivory’s set wasn’t the most exciting thing I’ve ever experienced. Although there was a slight crescendo throughout their time on stage, I feel like it stayed pretty low-key for the majority of the set. This is not at all a complaint. Sure, I was in the mood for something a bit more upbeat and aggressive, but it was impossible not to drift further in love with this group with every passing note that soaked into the air.

The only other band to perform at First Avenue on Tuesday night was bôa, and, truthfully, this is all anyone needed to leave the venue feeling wholly fulfilled and energized. Like Dream, Ivory, the music of bôa isn’t the most intense thing you will hear all day, and definitely lacked the feeling of angst and aggression that my heart was craving after my hectic day at work, but they gave the excited audience a dazzling performance full of fun, creativity, and fire.

Hailing from the UK, bôa is not a new band. They have been around since 1993 and definitely hit their stride with their 1998 single, “Duvet”. When asked to cover this show, I told the contact that had reached out to me that I knew nothing about bôa but that I’m always down to check new things out. This rep went on to tell me that I absolutely do know this band because of this song. They were right. “Duvet” is a song that many people know, but you may not know the band behind it. This is such a shame because, although it was a thrill to hear them perform this banger of a track, I thoroughly enjoyed everything else the band gave me throughout their nearly twenty-song set just as much.

Stylistically, bôa bridges gaps between too many genres to list. Overall, they have a very indie-rock vibe about them, but there were jazzy undertones that lingered throughout all of the songs and, at times, an almost classical influence that was sprinkled throughout the set. Although their style seemed to be ever-changing and ever-evolving in front of my eyes, one thing stayed constant with this band, and that is the passion and joy that I felt from all of the members. Although each member seemed to be in their own little world doing their own things, the way all of these highly talented musicians came together to create such a full atmosphere of sounds was more than enough to make me take a step back and just marvel at the magic. Whether they were playing a danceable bop or a more tender and slow-moving jam, this band knew what they were doing and knew just how to convey the thoughts of each song perfectly.

I took a chance on this show and, like usual, it paid off. Why weren’t you there? Had you never heard of bôa? That’s not an excuse. There are no words to describe how exciting it is to walk into a show mostly blind and be treated to such a sense of magic like what I got on Tuesday night. You should really try it sometime!

Line Up:

Dream, Ivory

bôa

Venue: First Avenue

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 32

Crowd Surfers- 0

Stage Divers- 0

Mosh-ability- 0 out of 10

Amount of Beer Spilled On Me While Walking Around- $0

Broken Bones- None Noticed

Spotted Flying Through The Air- Nothing Noticed

Fights- None Witnessed

Pukers- 0

Passed Out People- 0

Idiots Taken Out By Security – 0

How Many Times I’ve Seen These Bands Before (or at least how many times I can remember)-

Dream, Ivory – 0

bôa – 0

Celebrity Sightings – None

Overall Score – 7.9 out of 10

Show on Deck — The SoapGirls

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