Concert Review: Body Language Gives Music The Smoothest Touch At Rough Trade NYC
Alright, I begin my review with a little bit of depth. In a world that struggles with the notion of women owning their bodies and its pleasures, Body Language’s concert felt more than good; it felt enlightening. Often, the discussion of women, in terms of sex, can feel like a battle of extremes. It can either be a null argument or a hyper sexualized one, but Body Language aims to show the physicality/ sensuality of being human as something way more casual than presented. Our bodies may be cosmic in origin, but they do not need to be treated so distantly, and in their Rough Trade concert, I learned that.
As a reviewer/ person I have learned to never underestimate what music can teach you, and through Angelica Bess I learned that our bodies should respected as temples to protect and please. Bess rocked the stage in over-sized, militant-esque jumpsuit of which she gyrated across tracks with a smooth swag. She flowed, both vocally and physically, into songs that reminded me of the coolness people exude in private. Usually, we, as humans, have the tendency to show our greatness in private like, only our closest friends know we are funny or only our siblings know we can sing. Yet, a true artist lets their light shine, and reveals its nuances as if they were colorful rays. Hence, like a true artist, Bess approached the stage with the intimacy and confidence we all approach our greatness and dreams in private, but she did so with public ferocity. She glided through the set with a grace and fierceness that the Broad City ladies could only label as “kweenly”.
The First
Bess is the perfect blend of funk, fun, and fierce that could make her a prime, female icon. She is bounces around singing and using her body to exude sentiments of freedom and joy that usually musicians show through their voice or instrumentals. Although Bess’ vocals have the smooth R&B vulnerability that traps listeners in the emotions of a lyrics, her dance moves assure that audiences are also enraptured with songs’ rhythms. Their successful efforts to get the crowd “shaken” makes sense as their literal band name is Body Language. Hence, they did not divert from exemplifying the body as a canvas for expression, and used a giant of people in 80’s garb dancing behind them. The images, at first, were charming, but as their electro-funk mixes blazed throughout Rough Trade, the pictures became enticing. They became visual invitations for the crowd to be as liberated and creative with their bodies as the funkadelic styles of the people on screen. Each movement, shape, and feeling you expressed through the sway of your hips and snaps of your fingers, meant that you were alive. Thus, Body Language’s concert and music essence was a brazen reminder that it is not only your soul that gives off signs of life, but your body is also an emblem of your living.
I really enjoyed Body Language’s concert because both their music and message is a symbol that, yes, the body can be a sultry source of pleasure, but it is also your personal, temple of fun. Be happy and enjoy your spirit and body, and do not overthink it as an image of sex or beauty. Instead, see your body as a keeper of your inner worth and joys. Thanks, Body Language for the live show lesson. Click Here For More Information on Body Language.
