Concert Review: Lovehoney Drips Off The Stage At Arlene’s Grocery
Alright, I begin my review of Lovehoney by stating I am a feminist. This is a weird word to throw out because people get tense when associating themselves with a group fighting for equality. For some the rise of women means the fall of men, but I see no exchange. Instead, I see the opportunity for female artists to be recognized more from what they have been: not from who they have been compared to. If anything, equality disproves gender barriers by showing there were none to begin with: just constructs. I bring up this point to show the irony of lead singer Alysia Quinones performance at Arlene’s Grocery in that she proved rock n’ roll greatness has no gender by being one of the best female rock-goddesses NYC can call its own.
Men and women, alik,e can rock, but the true energy of greatness that stirs this genre comes from the spirit. From Led Zeppelin to Janis Joplin, the magnificence of rock n’ roll stems from its ability to emote, which Alysia Quinones does in every single physical, emotional, and vocal move she commits. Yes, I said COMMIT! because she does not do moves; she commits to her songs like a person with a plan. Her hunger and drive to perform drips off the stage, which was delightful for me to watch. She never had a moment of stillness in her performance as she walked up and down the stage, tossed her hands and hair, and contemplated her lyrics as if she were thinking out loud. She sings her words like there is a chaos inside her, and to sing is both soothing and clarifying of the many things crossing her heart/mind. Its intoxicating to see someone do what they love with a passion, and, that night, Lovehoney was releasing their EP: Devil Woman, which heightened Quinones’ awareness of the both the crowd and her personal goal to win them over. Luckily, she has a voice and pack of songs worthy of your listening ears.
Quinones has to be one of the most vocally playful singers I have seen. She jumps octaves and annotations like they are childhood games. She swoons and swindles her notes with both a gleeful freedom and precision; knowing that she can while affirming that you want her too. Her voice has a natural sultriness to it with an “old world” quality; making her sound like she belongs in 1960’s R&B-soul records singing on the woes, joys, and addictiveness of love. Moreover, she has an airiness to her voice that breezes her through her range, while transforming into a vocal smokiness that makes particular notes feel like they were cooked on the grill before they were sung. Add on, Quinones connection/charm with the audience, and Lovehoney becomes one of the rising artists to watch in NYC. Hence, why I love their new EP. The band aims for classic rock with subtle instrumentals of other genres like jazz or pop, but nothing too far out to take away that this is a rock n’ roll band. Yet, as my readers know, it is always the lyrics that attract me to a song. I want to hear words that inspire or, at least, reveal something new to this crazy thing called life.
Devil Woman EP captures in three songs the pleasures and pains of a confident woman with sexual and relationship desires. Lovehoney is cognizant that love is a physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental connection with another human being, to which they write songs like “My Beautiful Struggle” to show that it is a layered experience. Part of the reason you can become a “Devil Woman” while in love or painfully declare “I’m Gone” is because love, in itself, makes you think and feel so many things that it can provide a euphoria/paranoia you have never felt before. It is great to see a female artist reveal, with a brightness made for stars, that love does not shake men: it shakes spirits. For More Information On Lovehoney Click Here.
