Concert Review: The New Up Make You Rise Up At Union Hall

 

The New Up played the newly opened Union Hall, and brought a rock n roll flare to its reinvention. The venue had, unfortunately, burned down a few weeks ago, and revive its spiritual blaze, The New Up were a rightful choice for its re-opening.  After having the pleasure of interviewing them, I knew they would deliver a thoughtful, high energy show. Clean, crisp, and captivating were three words that crossed my mind as the dynamic duo handed everyone “tiny mirrors”/ songs to look at the world.

The whole purpose of a concert is to elaborate what a record cannot or might not. For the New Up,  their concert was a display of their rock n’ roll back-drop. As their guitar cried in sonic bliss, it was hard not to be impressed by their musicianship. Each of their bandmates physically invest in their instruments, closing their eyes, and shaking their torsos as if shaking themselves helped release their notes. Noah Reid, in particular, looks upward to sky when he really feels a chord/ spirt coming on to riff his guitar. It is exciting to see musicians have tells; like an intro to an action film. When he looks up, you know guitar God is coming, and, of course, ES Pitcher CANNOT fall behind in glorious style. She moves her body with precision and pizzazz, and having a glitter blue ensemble certainly added to her super-heroine aura. There is something sincerely magnetic about women who KICK BUTT, and ES felt like she could take on the world with a voice that   is like a battle cry from Wonder Woman. Having such prowess was helpful in striking the emotional chords of ‘Black Swan”, “Almost Human”, “Future Is Now”, and “No Fly Zone”, which are each songs tapping into different elements of America’s political climate. The New Up are unabashed in their political opinions, but they sing their thoughts with a mutual wisdom and fire. When Pitcher belts, especially in “Future Is Now”, the lyrics leap at you with vivid importance; we are, socially, at a crossroads of which apathy can only lead to Trumps. 

Overall, I would see The New Up’s show again. They serve the spiritual zest that combines fun with value. When you are not head-banging or following Pitcher in spontaneously rhythmic dancing, you are sitting and peering in to lyrics that could be quotes apart of acclaimed literature, or you could be watching Noah play his guitar as if it is playing him. Together, he and Pitcher bring a personality that is friendly and even humorous. Mr. Reid splashes his sarcasm into bits throughout the show, while Pitcher might be the coolest woman to lose her tambourine mid-concert. All in all, in a world that questions whether fun and thoughtfulness can be one in the same, The New Up is the answer. For More Information On The New Up Click Here.