Concert Review: Antibalas Give A Feast of Sound At Gramercy Theatre

Sometimes, I think life comes in flavors, or, at least music does. Pop serves us sweet, gushing sounds that remind us of bubblegum. Rock n’ roll or Hip Hop taste like every salt-infused mea/ situation you guzzled with a side of pure water. Soul, Latin Music, and even jazz seems like bread or the go-to food for spiritual sustenance. Antibalas bring on every single ones of these flavors to the point of making you feel full, and their Gramercy Theatre performance was a FEAST!

Let the congas play, the trumpets blaze, and the guitar cry in joy because music has returned to heal us! Antibalas show is like a giant buffet of sounds and unusual feelings of pure euphoria. I say this because I am used to sadness in music. Music loves to get sad, and I am totally fine with that. Everyone knows I love a good sad song, but I have to wonder if music is a reflection of the world, and so many, recent songs either aim for a mindless bliss that keeps you dancing or a downward sadness that keeps you gnawing, what does that say about our current state? The point is, as humans, we teeter between wanting to feel everything and wanting to feel nothing, and Antibalas just want you to feel good, even if its about feeling good through bad politics, bad times, and bad people. There is NOTHING quiet or dainty about their stage presence, which is so refreshing. They are not trying to be vulnerable or frail even if they sing to topics that can leave you quivering with implausibility like, world peace. They are trying to BE ALIVE almost to the point of deities. I am convinced lead vocalist Amayo is part- god. If someone told me he was molded by Zeus with water and soil and then a lightning bolt was used to give him life, I would say, “That sound about right!”.

Amayo is ELECTRIFYING on stage! He raises his hands and absorbs the crowds cheers like Superman does the sun; he needs their praise to continue fighting on. Seeing someone relish and revel in a crowd is always fascinating because, most of us, would rather attend our own funeral then perform in front of an audience. Yet, Amayo  is of a different caliber, and Martin Perna is not AT ALL behind in serving performance godliness. Through some of Antibalas’ newest tracks like, “Gold Rush”, “Tombstone”, and “Hook & Crook”, the experimentally luxurious  band was able to serve empowerment and confrontation, all at once. Their grooves flux with prowess, but also with its powerful message; sure, you can dance like there is no tomorrow, but move through your life as if to make one. With what felt like a thousand men and instruments on stage, Antibalas brought happiness and balance to Gramercy, along with that idea that to live good in the present is to setup a better future. For More Information On Antibalas Click Here.