Concert Review: Citris Bring Punk Pop Dischord To Arlene’s Grocery

Citris played their album release party at Arlene’s Grocery, to rock the socks off the audience for their final residency show. Their new album Panic in Hampton Bay is the vibrant nightmare of every “stuffed-upper lip” that ever existed. The album may not, necessarily, be a concept piece, but it does play into the notion/fantasy of running into rich-kid party and showing them how to really have fun. Such a mentality set up their show to be one of joy and slight mischief.

Lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter Angelina Torreano is super friendly on stage. She stands center and laughingly remarks at her ability to remember every web-link to buy Citris’ new album: Panic in Hampton Bay. As she shouts -out a few friends that helped film their new video, “Coco Chanel”, she gives a warm aura that attracts viewers and ignites them to follow her in Citris’ punk-pop discord. In concert, their music reminds me of 90’s emo-punk , of which songs felt like two separate arrangements spliced into one melody. Their hit “Little Scars” or “Golden” are perfect emblems of Citris’ ability to rhythmically contrast a verse with a chorus. One minute you’ll be thrashing the room in guitar riffs and drum strikes, and then you’ll be shaking into stillness with the sweet down-tempos they randomly muster. Their aim is to mix sugar rushes with instrumental volatility. The front of their crowd might as well have been a mini-mosh pit with people swaying and shaking next to each other as if Citris’ guitar melodies were driving them MAD! It was awesome to watch their capacity to control the crowd’s feelings. It was as if Citrix’s music is laced with empathy, and can rile people’s rage or call upon their calm. Yet, my favorite part of their live show is witnessing the part anarchic/ part-anthemic voice of Torreano. 

I love when friendly people are talented, and Torreano is both. As I mentioned, she bantered a bit with the audience showing she is an approachable personality. Yet, when she entered song, she transformed into a person that feels a victim of reproach, which makes sense with Panic At Hampton Bay’s theme. This album, like Citris, itself, builds on the idea of being the coolest kids to tear up a lukewarm party. Usually, when we imagine a batch of elite class people creating a “sophisticated gathering”, we also have picture boredom and plain chatter rather than deep conversation or, at least, a little clatter of chaos. By playing upon that dream of bringing a little “grit” to the pristine waters of Hampton Bay, Torreano adds a  flavor of emotionality to her voice. While she resonates with the goth-pop voice of early Gwen Stefani, she manages to bring her own style of rollercoaster sentimentality to her  songs proving that she can bring the sweetness and the sour of a sour-patch kid to any song. While pop may be associated with candy, Citris aims to associate punk with said treats, as well. Personally, I think they are successful, and I would recommend their show for a night of lovely rascality. For More Information On Citris Click Here.