Witch Prophet
Seeing Witch Prophet live is like being invited to a private gig – like you’ve just discovered a secret world where only the coolest of the coolest hang out together. The mix of jazzy, quirky rap beats meld with the charismatic vocals of Ayo Leilani. It’s definitely a serenade and a stellar vocal performance. The beat producer and singer work together on stage and ensure that their music, which can sometimes become lost in the background when performed live, takes center stage. The music is made to
make you groove – and it’s always fun to see acts who just ooze coolness, and that’s Witch Prophet. Black and proud, the track “Makda” is wonderful to behold.
The Great Escape, Patterns Upstairs
Loverman
I’m rushing to get to Charles Street Tap and when I finally do get through the doors, Loverman is bending over the stage with a tambourine, crouched, knees spread, slowly gliding his hips back and forth while breathing heavily and singing in a deep baritone – he looks like he’s trying to seduce every single person in the room.
He leaps from a ridiculous height off the stage and is running through the crowd, yelling, and melodically moaning his way from
the back to the front of the room. The awkward back and forth between sexual screams, pants and sultry singing is entrancing the audience, and the crowd obviously wants more. He improvises his dancing, kicks his legs in the air and waves his arms and throws himself on the floor and at the end he takes a bow to wait for his applause – which he gets- and a lot of it.
Now he’s come down through the crowd again with his tambourine and we’ve smacked our hips together (bumping butts as it were)- so I guess I was part of the show too. He is a performer through and through – and
although it’s amusing and entertaining, some of the music is marred by his shocking screaming and howling – but the crowd loves it. He’s weird, eccentric, and he doesn’t care if you don’t like it- and I think that’s why you can’t look away.
The Great Escape, Charles Street Tap
Velvetine
Velvetine are an eccentric bunch – their outfits place them firmly in the super internet, super 2000’s era fashion that gets
you excited for the show even when they’re still doing their sound check.
They snap a selfie on stage and laugh at the result – after poking a little fun at me for posing like an idiot when they took a picture of the crowd earlier.
This is the kind of band that TikTok would love, but the band also have great confidence live.
The first track starts, and a glimpse into their indie pop is already showing. The chorus hits hard and fast and the energy is
already fun and refreshing. Lead singer Mia Scarlet is confident, with a no-nonsense indie pop sound that has a great amount of proper rock mixed in. I’m hooked on the first song. She has an Olivia Rodrigo-if-she-did-hardcore-indie-rock-
vibe. Not shy at all, they get the crowd interested in the songs, give
background, and don’t shy away from getting the crowd close.
