Concert Review: Noga Erez Flows Like Water At Bowery

I remember the first time I reviewed Noga Erez. It was in a VERY small bar, that inherently violated Covid restriction (lol!). Just having two people in that bar, was considered an over-crowding. Yet, she sang and twisted her body as if her own music was written by her own contortions. The weird beauty of Noga Erez is music is that it curls and coils like a can be crushed in one’s hand. For her, that is what FEELING feels like, and, at Bowery Ballroom that was how rhythm found its base: crushed, coiled, and curled into strange perfection. 

If M.I.A and Jain, had a little sister, it would be Noga Erez. She combines their zest and eccentricity at making the very people they wish to uplift move and shake to the ground. Yet, their rhythms are so distinct and paced, like a Mario Kart going off the rails, that you feel odd at how you submit to their music. I love when good artist is also a different one. Part of why we admire artists is that they are bolder than us. For however introverted Rihanna may claim to be, she still puts a crown on and twerks for billions to see. You can’t be that shy if you do that, but you also have to be pretty powerful if we all watch. Noga Erez is powerful, and her music and amiability felt like a perfect match for someone trying to light one. 

There is an underbelly of political or socio-commentary to Noga Erez’s music such as, “Knockout Against The Machine” and “Views.” It is veiled in fun, machinated rhythms and spliced lyricism that feels cut to say them most about what is unsaid: people don’t know how to feel. Most of the time, when we say that, we mean “people don’t know how to feel about a situation.” Yet, for Noga Erez, it is about people not knowing how to fully feel love and rage without feeling empty or having other sentiments convolute them enough so that they never leave. Think about it! How many times did was your love blocked by doubt or how many times did that love block you from having a needed doubt? Thus, as people smiled and swayed to her music, Noga Erez proved no revolution is without evolution, and no evolution is without movement in body and soul. Click Here For More Information on Noga Erez.