It was the last WFNM of 2024. I, of course, circled this Bar Lubitsch on my music calendar. I also knew before heading out that I would be highlighting AZRA for my NFV Song Spotlight series. The day before, I was on Youtube and figured I would do a search for her music. I came to her page and decided to click on "if It wasn't for you" because I liked the cover image of AZRA looking lost in her forlorn thoughts. The song hooked me with the power anthem, "If it wasn't for you. And all you put me through. The miscommunication spiral." The video has her dancing through the streets of Boston along with power kicks into the camera when she sings "you." You've got to watch until the end, because the videographer and her start laughing. A slam of a door that was meant as an emphasis did not occur, because the door was one of those safety theater doors that can open quickly, but closes slowly.
 |
| AZRA at Bar Lubitsch |
And I love how on Spotify the word It is capitalized in the title, but you is not.
That song was the last on her setlist. She introduced it initially with a more positive spin than the lyrics would imply as she thanked the audience with an "If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be here." The songwriter revenge had to come out though, "but don't listen to the lyrics too much, because I don't want the boy to find out."
 |
| AZRA at Bar Lubitsch |
Back to the start of the of the Bar Lubitsch set, AZRA came on stage with a power backing band. I immediately noticed two of the band members. On guitar was Liza Light who I also recently featured via my Song Spotlights. On drums was Jessica Goodwin. I've followed Goodwin for a number of years. New to me was bassist Ash Ross who also is a recent addition to the band lavalove. I came across that band shortly after venues reopened, but have yet to catch a set with her in the line-up. This got me even more excited about hearing the live set.
 |
| AZRA at Bar Lubitsch |
The set began with AZRA getting the band into a prep huddle and then she said to the audience, "All right guys, are you ready to f*ck this sh*t up?" She then told a handful of friends (or family) who were sitting on the venue couches to stand up. The first song off the bat was "All Out" which in and of itself is a dance-pop prep rally. One could see it as a song about not being concerned to go out on the dance floor, but it can also be read at a much deeper level, "They wanna keep me cautious. I wanna play with fire."
 |
| AZRA at Bar Lubitsch |
The set had Goodwin flipping her hair, Ross had the goth persona going with the spiked headband, Light played with grit, and AZRA fronting it all with charismatic enthusiasm. The audience was definitely entertained.
The song "Outrageous" was infused with Michael Jackson's "Beat It" influences. The last four songs of the set were from her 2024 EP The Reset - played in order. "The reason it's called The Reset is because I spent this whole year resetting, letting go of remaining toxins that were around me. I just wanted to go into 2025 killing it with a badass attitude." The first song off that EP is "The Remedy," which is just as powerful as "if It wasn't for you." The trio bandmembers at the front of the stage were dancing and kicking throughout. Goodwin on drums was out of my sightline during the song, but I'm better there was hair flipping -- it is just that type of song.
 |
| AZRA at Bar Lubitsch |
What I did not know before heading out was that it was Brandon the sound guys' birthday. He does the sound for the majority of WFNM nights. His band SØUNDHOOSE closed out the night playing 6 of their originals and then launching into cover songs to close out the night. Joining in for two of the covers was AZRA who sang the covers "Emptiness Machine" (Linkin Park cover) and "Decode" (Paramore cover). Paramore must be a favorite of AZRA as she also covered one of the band's song in her set.
 |
| AZRA at Bar Lubitsch |
Setlist: All Out, Outrageous, Misery Business (Paramore cover), The Remedy, Simple Things, Otherside, if It wasn't for you.
No comments:
Post a Comment