Rouge Music Festival at The Sultan Room

On a hot, humid, and rainy Saturday, The Sultan Room hosted the second day of the Rogue Music Festival. And it is without a doubt that the festival is showcasing some of the best and underrated talent in New York and starting with Grandma, a singer-DJ soloist who amped up the crowds escaping into the AC on Saturday. Followed up by rock band Nihiloceros influenced the audience's head-banging. Bands brought their talent and merch, like Hard Nips, a Japanese girl rock band that hand-crocheted bikini tops for sale.

And the party did not stop on Saturday, with the festival continuing at 3 Dollar Bill the next day.

Starting the show, Megagonefree took center stage in a sultry red dress, ending up in only very thin lingerie, followed by talented backup dancers in bras and tiny shorts. We are so obsessed. Their set made everyone (and I mean everyone) horny. Goo and Leone's bands brought the audience to tears with heart-wrenching vulnerability following that stunning performance.

There was a musician for everyone at the festival. A wide variety of local talent that Rogue Music Festival is determined to help widen its audience. In between acts, people would bounce from the stage to the local vendors selling custom-made jewelry, festival wear, and even tattoo artist. The festival started in the late afternoon and ran late into the night, perfect for early birds and night owls.

To read more about the making of the Rogue Music Festival, check out our interview with the organizers.

Miss out on the festival? Check out our Spotify and discover some of the local talent showcased during this iconic weekend!

Written by Delfina Barbiero

Photography by @kiangannonn, Michelle LoBianco, @gannonpadgett for Rogue Music Festival

New Music Monday: 7/24/23

Love Like This by ZAYN

After two years since his last album release, ZAYN makes a comeback with the single ‘Love Like This’ showing us what to expect with new music in the near future. This track is undeniably ZAYN with powerful vocals, bold lyrics, and a clean mixture of genres that effortlessly blend into one another. It is a true pop song combined with hints of R&B and electronic knowledge. With a hypnotizing melody and beautiful piano chords, this song encapsulates the feeling of truly falling for someone and what life is like with this new person, “Doesn’t matter if it’s left or it’s right/ Your direction is on my mind”.

The Weekend by Stormzy & RAYE

Starting off the song strong, RAYE begins with a jazz/soul-influenced intro, and Stormzy jumps in with flirtatious banter. Both artists relate in their background of south London origins, briefly mentioned in the second verse, this track highlights both artists' strong suits while adding playful charm, unique to them. ‘The Weekend’ is a clear hit with RAYE’s confident vocals and Stormzy's quick-witted pick-up lines throughout the verses. A steady and strong bass set up perfectly for the alternating duet setting a plan to meet up, “How about a Thursday, ayy? (Hm, Thursday is tight)/ Is Friday a vibe? (Aight, Friday we live)/

On the weekend we will be just fine”

De Selby (Part 2) by Hozier

Hozier’s third album “Unreal Unearth” is set to come out on August 18th, leaving fans eager since his last album release in 2019. ‘De Selby (Part 2)’ is a unique and multifaceted song, being second on the new album, which embodies sounds of alternative, soul, indie-rock, and has a groovy feeling to it. His captivating voice draws you into the chorus preparing you for rhythmic melodies. With riveting lyrics that make you ponder, Hozier has released a track that leaves us all feeling impatient for the album release, “I wanna run against the world that’s turning/ I’d move so fast that I’d outpace the dawn”.

why do you fight by aldn

In the release of his EP, ‘the end’, aldn once again delivers hyper pop incorporated songs that still linger on the question of “what genre am I listening to?” The fifth track ‘why do you fight’ has recurrent lyrics wondering about the complications within a relationship. Not even hitting the minute mark on the song, there is a rise of electronic beats and instrumentals that transition into a soft guitar strum and reflective lyrics, “I could’ve said a lot more than I said/ I could’ve did a lot more than I did”. The entire track has a prominent bass and powerful drums that tie the song together into a punk-alt-hyper pop mix, an ambiguous genre, once again proving aldn’s growth as an artist.

hell is a teenage girl by Nessa Barrett

Title track of her new EP-album, ‘hell is a teenage girl’ incorporates mesmerizing instrumentals and raw lyrics. Barrett is known for releasing music that not only moves the audience but is also something that many can relate to. She is authentic and honest, expressing the tribulations of the expectations of women put onto them by men, “It might be a man’s world/ But I’ll watch it burn/Hell is a teenage girl”. The outro plays out an ominous piano and sirens leaving listeners feeling haunted.

Burn With Me by The Criticals

Opening with a bass riff that pulls you in, ‘Burn With Me’ is the fifth track on The Criticals new EP- Front Door Confrontations. With previous releases and sold-out headlining tours, The Criticals have made themselves the rock band from Nashville. Strong drums and an enticing electric guitar with husky vocals make this track the embodiment of a rock song for the summer. The lyrics are compelling and go along well with the mystique the song evokes, “But if you open up the sky I’ll listen/ Lay back and burn with me”.

Barbaric by Blur

After eight years since their last album release, Blur has put out “Ballad of Darren” discussing feelings of time passed and introspection. ‘Barbaric’ is truly a painfully deep song hidden behind upbeat, feel-good melodies. Their harmonies and use of exciting instrumentals make it difficult not to get lost in the feeling the track provokes. The heartbreak, although hidden well, is heard loud and clear with the repeating lines, “We have lost the feelings that we thought we’d never lose/ It is barbaric”.

Written by Amy Kapel

Graphic by Ryan Murray

Cab Ellis: From Eccentric Openers to Memorable Headliners

It is easier than ever for artists to grow their audience through the power of the internet. With Tiktok’s For You Page and Spotify’s Discover Weekly, it’s rare to discover new music through word of mouth. When I was first introduced to the alt-rock band Cab Ellis, all I was told about them was that this is a band you need to see live. I have had the pleasure of seeing this band twice in the past month.

When I saw them for the first time at Mercury Lounge opening for Telescreens, I was surprised by the large ensemble storming the stage. The band was made up of eight members and continued to surprise me throughout their set. From the beginning of their set, they captured everyone’s attention, having an electrifying sound of alt-rock and jazz (yes, there is a horn section in the group). The band further set itself apart with the lead singer Connor Abeles’ rap-style delivery and eccentric dance moves, making it nearly impossible to look away. The magnetic stage presence of the band intoxicates the crowd, making the audience feel like they are a part of the show themselves. Abeles joined the group numerous times in mosh-pits or just taking a break off stage wandering around. During their final song, Bad Health, nearly half the band followed Abeles and joined the audience.

After their set, I went to the bar and kept hearing the same question “Who was that?” The only critique about their set was that it was limited, nearly forgetting that they were just the opener. Thankfully a few weeks later, at Brooklyn Made, they were able to fulfill the crowd further as headliners. With a longer set, there was more of everything; high energy, moshing, Abeles jumping in and out of the crowd, and even someone from the crowd storming on and off the stage.

If you want a memorable night in New York City, catch these guys at their next show, and I promise you’ll have a night to remember.

Written by Ashley Murphy

Photography by Naomi Veloz