Live Concert Photography: Baeble Music’s Brews and Bands, Industry City, Brooklyn feat. Xenia Rubinos and Tigertown 7/14/16
The forecast before the second show of Baeble Music‘s Brews and Bands series in Industry City in Sunset Park was a little dicey — with a chance of thunderstorms and rain for a significant portion of the day before the show. After stopping by a supermarket near my SoHo office for a bottle of Coke, the skies suddenly turned ominously dark and for the better part of an hour or so, there was a torrential rain storm in which it was raining in thick diagonal sheets; and in fact, not only was I not certain if I were going to actually attend, there was a chance that the outdoor show wasn’t going to happen. But luckily, the weather quickly changed for the better wth the sun coming out to dry most of the rain for the show, which were to feature New York-based indie electro pop pop artist Xenia Rubinos and Sydney, Australia-based indie electro pop quartet Tigertown.
Over the last couple of years, Xenia Rubinos has developed a reputation locally for a sound that draws from R&B, hip-hop, Latin music, Caribbean rhythms, layered beats and mischievous melodies paired with politically charged, thoughtfully provocative lyrics — and with the release of her full-length debut Magic Trix and sophomore effort Black Terry Cat, Rubinos has developed a growing national profile. Interestingly, I’ve actually caught Rubinos several years before, opening for Railbird at the long defunct South Williamsburg/Bushwick venue Big Snow Buffalo Lodge; so I was naturally quite curious to see how Rubinos sound and aesthetic may have changed since then — and in many ways, it seems that her sound has become much more accessible and full of radio friendly, catchy hooks.
(Photo Caption: Xenia Rubinos and her backing band performing at Baeble Music’s Brews and Bands at Industry City, Sunset Park earlier this month.)
Closing out the evening was the Sydney based indie electro pop quartet Tigertown. Comprised of husband and wife duo Charlie (vocals, synths) and Chris Collins (guitar) and Charlie Collins’ siblings Alexi (keys) and Elodie (bass), the quartet have grown quite a profile in their native Australia, including regular airplay on Triple J. With a breakout appearance at SXSW, Tigertown was signed to renowned indie electro pop label Neon Gold, the label home of acclaimed acts Charli XCX, Christine and the Queens, Marina and the Diamonds and others, and a tour with St. Lucia, the Australian quartet has quickly found themselves as an up-and-coming international sensation, thanks in part to a 80s inspired, breezy, and anthemic, hook-laden sound.
For these photos and more, check out the Flickr set here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskDnxreh