This week Julia Mason (aka The Decibel Decoder) was in Manhattan and brings us her three hot takes from the New Colossus Festival
New Colossus Festival takes place in and around the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Scheduling itself the week before SXSW, it captures some of the international artists en route to Texas as well as others travelling just to New York, many for the first time. Of course there are a whole raft of quality US artists performing as well. The majority played multiple times over the 6 days thus allowing for more opportunities to catch as many artists as possible, and with the added advantage of venues all within walking distance of each other.
All pictures Julia Mason
This intimate festival was an utter joy. Tickets were available for the whole festival, but there were also day ticket options allowing for more inclusivity of those wanting to attend. Very difficult to decide this but three bands (not including UK and Irish artists) which stood out are reviewed below.
Public Circuit (US - Brooklyn, New York)
Combining punk and electronica this set was intoxicating. Described as a synth outfit, Public Circuit are so much more than this. The trio produce dance friendly yet raw music. There are wild disco vibes layered with elements of techno and 80's electronics but these are not simply blended together. Public Circuit have chucked all these influences into a pot and set it on fire. The result is pure electricity with beats which get to your very soul. One band I would have loved to see again but it just didn't work out with timings.
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Bakers Eddy (New Zealand)
Bakers Eddy bounded onstage and seemed larger than life. Totally loved the energy, full of edgy bounce. They are more melodic punk than hardcore and boy oh boy it was good. The set whizzed by, always a good sign but still disappointing when it was all over. No gimmicks on show here, just an obvious love for what they do, and they do it so well. Debut album Love Boredom Bicycles was released in 2022 and opening track Concertina is the best place to start for newcomers - the passion centre front with a delivery which grabs the feet as well as the ears. Bakers Eddy head to SXSW next, fingers crossed I can catch them again.
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Shitfire (US - Louisville, Kentucky)
This Louisville punk band were formed right before the pandemic. They did 2 gigs before the world closed down. Thankfully that did not stop this powerhouse of punk. Getting up close and personal with bands like Shitfire is one of the many fabulous aspects of New Colossus Festival. Lead singer Hannah Blakeman prowled the space getting into the face of many watching. It was a visceral performance which thrilled everyone watching. Shitfire released their debut EP Howdy Bitch in summer of 2022 and quickly followed it up with their second Shit Genes in April 2023. Let's hope an album is on the on the cards soon.
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