Live Concert Photography: Blak Emoji and Butcher Knives at Piano’s 4/29/16

Live Concert Photography: Blak Emoji and Butcher Knives at Piano’s 4/29/16

Singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kelsey Warren is a grizzled NYC music scene veteran, who has been in a number of local and regionally known acts including Denise Barbarita and the Morning Papers, Pillow Theory and others. Warren’s latest (mostly) solo project Blak Emoji, has quickly received attention with the release of the incredibly catchy debut single “Sapiosexual,” and the single has proven to be a radical change in direction from Warren’s previous projects as his newest project’s sound consists of anthemic and slinky synth and power-chord based rock. Late last month, Warren joined by a backing band played their debut single, some previously unreleased material and an impressive cover of Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love” during the live band’s debut set.

Interestingly, Warren’s Blak Emoji project opened for Brooklyn-based self-proclaimed “Gyspybilly” septet Butcher Knives. Influenced by a diverse and eclectic array of influences including Mano Negra, The Clash, Johnny Cash, Gogol Bordello, Bob Marley, bluegrass, flamenco, Eastern European and Baltic folk, rockabilly and psychobilly the act has developed a reputation locally for a passionate and frenzied live set and for material that deeply empathizes with and humanizes the plight of the immigrant — both legal and illegal. And with several members of the band actually being immigrants, the material comes from deep and hard-fought personal experience.

I was at Piano’s with C to catch both of these great acts. Check out some photos from their sets below.