Concert Review: Dent May Brings The 80’s To Baby’s All Right

I have to laugh, in a good way, at Dent May’s Baby’s All Right concert. From lighting to demeanor, this show felt so 80’s that I almost turned around to come back in with a neon legging and teased hair. The time-warp made me smile, and give into the moment for its unusualness. It is no secret! The 80’s are back in sonic style, but not many give you it in ambiance, as well.

Dent May is like a walking Breakfast Club. He treats each of his songs like the hopes and dashed dreams of the film’s classic characters, which makes each track feel like a sweet misadventure through Life’s Highschool. From “90210” to “Hello Cruel World”, it was clear that Dent May wanted to bring back the colorful, retro vibes of said era particularly in approaching youthful problems. From finding a date to finding rent-money, Across The Multiverse ,played perfectly to the Brooklyn crowd. What place has become more of a cultural hub for Millennials than this NYC borough, of which Dent May’s lyrics might as well have been hash-tagged #millennialstruggles. Dent May, himself, plays like the quirky loner sifting through potential relationships and the cultural shocks of moving to a big city. Such a vibe makes sense considering his newest music is all about the locational transitions and emotional truths he discovered going from his native Mississippi to LA. Hence, Dent May’s own demeanor felt like a loner opening up; a smart guy ready to try and feel new things. This drew the audience in as he smiled and knelt in guitar glory through song such as, “Across The Universe (with Frankie Cosmos!),  “Don’t Let Them” and “Picture On A Screen” , which brought a brightness to his voice and and amiability to his presence. Not every artist can approach their songs with a giddied enthusiasm that becomes infectious. Usually, when we see someone sing “Dream 4 Me” in positivity, as New Yorkers. we feel compelled to retort, “Dream 4 Yourself!”. Yet, the level of synth-waved inclusivity made you want to encourage Dent May’s 80’s fantasy.

Sometimes, I wonder why recent, Millennial music is so 80’s based, especially considering, with our struggles, we should be “Nirvana-ing” up. Yet, Dent May’s show made me realize that the 80’s soundscape was one of the anthemic welcomes. Sure, youthful problems do not really change, but when you add a melodic drum-roll, a sunny key, and a chord that feels palmed and leafed in LA, itself, of course issues seem lighter and manageable. Moreover, Dent May’s voice is a rich, subtler blend between Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel. Alright, I cannot STOP myself with all these 80’s callbacks, but you can forward yourself with them by Clicking Here and checking out Dent May.