Share

All photos by Collin Quinlivan

As a commuter from up north, not much gets me cruising down the L train past Lorimer. But, when I heard Daddy Issues were going to be in town, I had to make the trek. I originally saw them play when I covered SXSW 2016, at a very fun showcase with White Reaper, promptly making me a fan. Since that time, Daddy Issues have continued to grow, releasing their first full-length LP Deep Dream in 2017.

As for the venue itself, Alphaville is a sweet little spot nestled deep in Brooklyn. I got to the venue a little early for a drink and had to test out the bar’s staple: chicken nuggets (adult edition), which were god-tier. The stage area is tucked in the back, a bit of a DIY vibe. As a photographer, the lighting left more to be desired (as trying to get a shot of drummer Emily Maxwell proved tough with her tucked in the world’s darkest corner), but it’s good enough if you’re just there to watch. I was, however, impressed with the sound quality. Lyrics were crisp and understandable through Daddy Issues’ grungy guitars and base–a luxury I didn’t experience in that living room at SXSW.

Blush, the first opener, had deliciously dreamy guitar riffs, like a bookend to Real Estate on the other side of Manhattan. It was a very nice spread of sounds as more and more patrons filtered in for the show.

Thick, the second, brought an incredible energy into the small venue. Self-described “Girlwave”, their riot grrrl influence genuinely meshed with more contemporary punk sounds. It’s a great sign of the times when musicians can mouth along with the lyrics to Blink 182’s ‘All The Small Things’ while setting up, and then play something completely different. Among spitting beer back into the crowd, they clearly know how to put on a performance.

Find a full photo gallery from all three performances posted in the gallery below.

Blush:

Thick:

Daddy Issues:


Join the conversation