SHALLOW ALCOVE TRANSFORMS BOWERY BALLROOM INTO THEIR OWN WORLD
BOWERY BALLROOM — NEW YORK CITY, NY
On Saturday night, Shallow Alcove warmed the hearts of every audience member at the Bowery Ballroom. Days ahead of the show, New York City was issued a warning: the city would be plagued by the worst cold plunge in decades, with subzero temperatures. But that didn’t stop fans from selling out the Bowery Ballroom for Mat Kerekes’ 10 YEARS OF LUNA THE WILD BLUE EVERYTHING TOUR. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of emo band Citizen’s frontman Mat Kerekes’ album, Luna & the Wild Blue Everything, Kerekes brought along the new wave of indie with him: indie folk artist Beeson and indie rock darlings Shallow Alcove.
It’s hard to find a band that’s working harder than Shallow Alcove (or Shale Ale for short) right now. Last year saw the release of a live album from Audiotree and their EP, Doggy Paddle. That’s not even mentioning their own headlining tour and multiple tour legs opening for various bands. The five-piece band, led by lead singer Grace Krichbaum and multi-instrumentalist Dan Harris, is a band I’ve personally seen three times (and counting). Not only because their music is some of the best indie music being made right now, but because Shallow Alcove is an incredible live band. Krichbaum and crew transform their recorded songs into new, living pieces for the stage. Songs like “Wishes on Weeds” find new life from the live arrangement. Originally an achingly-beautiful folk ballad, “Wishes on Weeds” gets transformed into an upbeat indie rock anthem accompanied by multi-part harmonies.
After opener Beeson charmed the audience, Shale Ale fans were in the crowd, buzzing for the band to take the stage. Krichbaum and Harris, accompanied by guitarist Peter Groppe, bassist Jack Harrington, and tour drummer Giulianna Iapalucci, immediately kicked into high gear. Running through fan favorites like “Heart Shaped Locket” and “Aim To Please”, the once seemingly huge Bowery Ballroom was transformed into an intimate corner of Shallow Alcove’s world. The band’s four-part harmonies filled the entire room, demanding the audience’s complete attention. Multiple times throughout their set, I had to put my camera down and just listen to the band perform.
Krichbaum took short breaks to thank Beeson and Mat Kerekes for taking them on the road for this tour, joking that the Kerekes stage crew was “the buffest touring crew” the band has seen. By the time Shallow Alcove’s set came to an end, the crowd was left buzzing. It was clear that new fans were made in the crowd that night, perfectly setting up the audience for Mat Kerekes’ headlining set. You can catch Shallow Alcove on the rest of Mat Kereke’s tour until early March.
