NFV Song Spotlight: Bruvvy's Concealer

I first crossed paths with Bruvvy at a WFNM night at Bar Lubitsch. At the time, they were recent arrivals from Miami. One of their Miami photographers was joining in on the fun. I saw them again a month later at another WFNM night, this one at Hotel Ziggy. In between those two dates, lead singer and guitarist Liz Varum broke her foot. She had to spend that second set sitting on a barstool, but the band still had their classic set. After only seeing the band twice, what would I call a classic set? A blow away set filled with head bangs, jumps, back to back stances, guitar and bass swung in wild fashion, and basically non-stop energy. Does this band even have any slow songs? Maybe they do, but I'm so into the set that I don't even notice that they've slowed it down. Their music is an electronic amalgamation of pop-rock intensity and attitude. 

Bruvvy at Harvard & Stone

After that July set, there were a few other nights that I really wanted to catch, but missed due to a variety of reasons that I can't recall unless I really looked at my music and work calendars. That is life in the Los Angeles music scene. You can't catch every set by your favorite bands. Yet, the thing about the Los Angeles music scene is that if you keep your eyes peeled, you'll likely get to catch another set. 

Bruvvy at Harvard & Stone

That night came recently at Harvard & Stone (a Swyndle night). What might have happened between July and November? Varum's foot healed and the band got signed to Universal Music Group! All that is good news. 

The band played before a large crowd and Varum couldn't help but notice and joked about how when it is a free show, all her friends showed up. Honestly, who can pass up a free show. And on favorable side of this, Varum mentioned that the crowd was much larger than the last time they played Harvard & Stone (that last time was one of those nights I wanted to catch, but couldn't make it). 

Bruvvy at Harvard & Stone

When it comes to the band, let's not forget drummer Juan Cabrera who forces the beat to make sure that no one slows it down. Bassist Paula Bunich and guitarist Nelson Gonzalez bookcased Varum on stage. Watching the two of them match the enthusiasm of their lead singer no doubt is a reason why the crowd got so into the set. That enthusiasm by the band and the crowd response created two memorable moments of crowd surfing. First crowd surfing happened when the band pulled up someone from the audience to sing a few lyric lines and then sent him off into the crowd to do some surfing. Then Varum herself took to crowd surfing, having the largest smile throughout the adventure. 

What did one notice: Varum wore knee pads, which fits the band's persona, but also protects those knees.  

Bruvvy at Harvard & Stone

After the set, as I was walking towards the exit I over heard a young Russian woman telling a friend about Varum, "She's Russian!" Ethnic pride, got to love it.

"Concealer" is their most recent release and has drums and guitar trading off beats until Varum comes in with a punk rap. The music screaks while the lyrics are spit out in a pissed off manner. The band takes the opportunity to just bounce on the stage. It is a perfect example of everything I love about this band. 

As for the lyrics, someone is being reprimanded for how they dealt with a relationship:

It’s not a mouth
If it speaks in imposter
When you only had yourself
You still got bored ‘nough to drop her