Concert Review: Ali Gatie Has Devout Fans At Bowery Ballroom
From fake tickets to fake I.D.’s, Bowery Ballroom was packed with tweens and young adults eager to see “The Gatie” or rather Ali Gatie. I was taken aback by the sheer determination to see Gatie and be as close to him as possible, particularly, because it included plotting. You have to really feel passionate about someone to get a fake I.D. or go all “The Spy” and create fake tickets to see them. Standing next to two, grown women planning what they would yell in Arabic to Gatie, when he came out, I understood why. It really makes a difference to see someone who looks like you, and shares your culture and experiences, singing to your feelings.
The women were so genuinely joyous that Gatie knew Arabic and would understand their phrases of adoration that I had to smile in mutual understanding. It is why I bring my Puerto Rican flag to see Bad Bunny or go to every JLO film, whether it is Hustlers or Gigli. (The latter I wish forget.). My point is representation matters. Truthfully, Gatie is not singing anything new to love, but, frankly, who is? Love goes up and down, and the nuances to that natural seesaw depend on you. Yet, for that crowd, his smooth, crooning voice carried an innate, pleading quality like, “Baby, please love me!.”
Ali Gatie – What If I Told You That I Love You (Official Lyric Video)
Gatie sings the songs that are for men who screwed with their women, and are not simply placed in the doghouse for it but are in an an animal shelter. Sonically, he slides right into the Drake/ Ella Mai/ Jhene Aiko playlists; with a voice that can make titanium go soft, which means one listen to “Moonlight” and romance will return. His mellow, melodic tone inherently draped over the crowd, and, having an audience so in love with him, only made him push further to connect with them. He was very interpersonal and gracious; understanding the weight of both being loved by people for your voice and being loved by your people for being their voice, which meant he was protected and filmed, at all costs.
Ali Gatie – It’s You (Official Music Video)
I have only been to a few concerts that I can genuinely say were 100% documented by the audience. No matter what beat-drop, from a hushing, heartbreak song to a “get to twerking” track, the hands never went down. I had to laugh because I can be guilty of killing my shoulder to film a song and never listening to or seeing that video again. Yet, in this world, are phones are our lives, and, naturally, we want to record and photograph the people that give us life. Ali Gatie gives life to his fans, and he is making the lovelorn bops to do so. For More Information On Ali Gatie Click Here.
