Ema

Her connection with the crowd was crazy. EMA really exceeded my expectations

I enjoyed this show immensely. I haven't had such straight up fun since I was a teenager at a show, I've had lots of fun at some amazing hsows this year, but this one (ohhhh.... and Wild Flag, of course) was straight up fun. She had an awesome set list, she opened with her new song Angelo, it kinda has this gangsta flair to it that was pretty cool and different from her other music. She did her whole album and she surprised me with " Cherry Lee" ( Ericka was in a band gowns ( who i love, it's the type of music you need to listen by yourself laying down eyes closed... it's not the type of music you put on in your car to get you and your friends excited for a party, but that's a compliment), Cherry Lee is from their album " Red State", the band is no longer together, but the song Marked from her album is actually from the Gowns broken Bones album,, basically go on itunes and get all the gowns stuff you can get, it's awesome), I really love this part of her performance because it was a wink to gowns fans, and the people who didn't know it loved it. Anways.. moving on... I loved her and her bands stage presence, she really came off raw and had this rugged energy... she's very different than the girl you see in spin magazine and pitchfork, she wasn't all dressed up, she has red shorts sneakers leggings and a Tazmanian Devil shirt on, her hair was punked out, her whole vibe was punk and her unique brand of dancing was awesome, she really seems like the type of woman who does not give a Hoo Ha but seems like she can be the most loyal friend at the same time. The reason I say the loyal friend this is because she's obviously very close to the people who she surrounds herself with and that came through in her perforformance with her amazing band. Nu Sensae were the first to play, once some technical difficulties were solved they rocked the house, the drummer was the shining star in my oppinion, and when the EMA set was coming to a close she brought him on stage with her and they did a song and Miss World by Hole ( Iam proud to say that I am the person who kept shouting HOLE HOLE HOLE! And they played it! I wanted to cry but I danced instead), their friendsip was obvious and it was freaking adorable watching them do the song together and it almost made me feel like I was at a friends bands show, she didn't seem to have an barriers up with the audience what so ever, she even came right outside when the show was over, I was too embarrased and maybe a little more than drunk to go up to her without making a fool of myself, but I realize now that she probably wouldn't of cared at all... oh well next time I'll just give her a huge hug and say thanks. I cannot end this review without talking about Talk Normal, they were the second band that played and they were something different, I can tell what their influences were right off the bat, so I understood their music, if you like anything that has to do with Lydia Lunch or Slits, Raincoats... maybe even some of the more bugged out Velvet Undergrounf stuff, I seriously suggest you check them out, it takes a patient ear but once you get into it.... there's no getting out, they were pouring their blood sweat and tears onto that stage. And as a New Yorker I must say.... we need to stop being so damn jaded and let loose and be wild dammit!

I found out earlier this week that my parents were getting divorced, putting me in a state of weird numbness and distance. EMA's show brought me back to life in some ways; I felt refreshed and recharged and human for the first time in days. EMA herself is charming and beautiful and funny. She played everything I wanted to hear and now I just want to hear everything she played. She is more of a performer than the record would suggest - she is obviously putting on a show, despite the brazen honesty of her songs. It's occasionally disconcerting but it doesn't matter, in the end.