Concert Review: Lydia Balances At Irving Plaza
At Irving Plaza, Lydia’s melodies had a way of softening both stress and adrenaline. From “Riverman” to “Goodside”, they embraced both; using their guitars like fabric softeners for feelings; meant to keep your soul’s original texture safe from any extreme wash.
Leighton Antelman froths and chills his vocals like smoked ice; singing his songs as if he is drunk from their lyrics but eager to devour their messages. He inches towards the mic like it is a hole in a wall, and he is trying to release a final, love note to the woman, friend, or self- reflection that lies on the other side. His passionate performance envelops you in tracks like, “Past Life”, “This Is Twice Now”, and “Hospital”, where he sings to every-time your life was repeating itself as if you could not stop getting the same wound in the same knee or the same laugh at the same joke.
Lydia – Goodside (Audio)
Being tired of the old is nothing new, but people were wrapped up in Lydia’s compassionate sound. Even a cover of Outkast’s “Ms. Jackson” stripped down the hype and funk of this classic track to reveal this a song about a guy singing to his mother-in-law that he is sorry he is/ will break her daughter’s heart (Andre 3000 and Erykah Badu). Maybe, it is because they were opening up for a band called Moose Blood, but, despite hearing their music beforehand, I truly thought I was going to walk into a heavy emo-rock concert. Yes, the “emo” was there, but, instead, it was a relaxed, adult “emo” like a person realizing that tantrums look cute when you are two, but do not have the same image when you are 32. Still, you hiding that you want throw animal crackers and orange juice at any mention of a pension plan does not take a way the reasonable desire to do so.
Lydia- The Exit (Official Music Video)
Eyes flocked to Antelman who used his body, guitar, and the overall stage space to shake off frustration, but never left the tiny hole in the wall/ mic as the opening of his relief. Overall, it was Lydia’s ability to leave you feeling balanced that fascinated me, and showed me that extremes in happiness and sadness show be taken as extremes, and not the basis of what we should reach or avoid, at all costs. For More Information On Lydia Click Here.
