Last Friday night the newly named Mr Twin Sister stopped by Babys All Right to play their first New York City headlining show since they changed their name from Twin Sister (although they opened for The Antlers at Webster Hall in July). It was the first night of a two-night run at Babys, celebrating the release of their new album, which is simply, and appropriately, titled Mr Twin Sister as well.
First came an opening performance from 3-piece Florida synth group Touch. They were a fitting opener, getting the night started with a light but enjoyable set. I thought the lead singer looked familiar, and upon further research I found out that they’re a new group of Nathan Pemberton, formerly of Holiday Shores.
Next came local Brooklyn act Ava Luna, who I have been trying to see for some time. I’ve heard a lot of praise about their live show, and it pleased me to see that all of it was true. There’s not an easy way to describe their sound, as they share gratitude to many different genres. One minute finds them finding a rock groove, and the next they’re cooling you off with a smooth honest r&B slowjam. But highlight came during the set-closer “Sears Roebuck M&M’s,” where Becca Kauffman (one of the groups three vocalists), was able to indulge in some leading lady dramatics that were high energy and stunning.
I missed my chance to catch Twin Sister, but I can live with Mr Twin Sister acting as my first taste of the band live, as I can’t possibly imagine the band any better. They crammed six members onto the stage at Babys, with each one serving as crucial piece as the next. The late night set was ideal for the tracks off Mr Twin Sister, which truly immerse oneself into the mindset of a long late night out. Effortlessly cool and collected, the band delighted the crowd with standout cuts such as single “Blush” and “Rude Boy,” whose new wave-disco influence set the whole floor into a swaying motion that was hard to resist joining in on. Frontwoman Andrea Estella was very much her eccentric self on stage, full of a colorful energy that was a difference maker. They also invited Ava Luna’s Kauffman and Felicia Douglass on stage to help out on vocals for some tracks, as well as a string quartet who somehow managed to fit on stage with everyone else.
Thankfully the group didn’t disregard their work as Twin Sister, still treating us to older material like “Bad Street” and ““All Around and Away We Go.” The tracks worked well with the new material, a reminder that even with the name change and slight stylistic transition, this is still very much the same band, ready to dazzle and impress us well into the night. T
Below find photos of Mr Twin Sister, Ava Luna and Touch.
Mr Twin Sister:
Ava Luna:
Touch:
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