June Communion Music Showcase at Rockwood

Communion Music can be difficult to make your way through the sea of people in the venue as the night goes on. At least for me, and I’m pretty small. June’s residency proved to be one of the most crowded I’ve seen in the past few months. Summer is almost here and people want to get out and enjoy it while they can. Rain was pouring down last Tuesday night, but it didn’t stop anyone from making the way out to Rockwood.

Native New Yorker Rachel Brown was the first performer of the night, taking over Stage 2. Brown combined pop, soul, and Caribbean sounds to create asensual sound. Her band boasted various different percussion instruments to bring a different sound into Rockwood than what I have heard in the past. Her debut EP Building Castles is available on iTunes now.

Rachel Brown

Downstairs, in the dark, almost silent room, candles set the scene for the intimate acts that are usually designated for Stage 3. Matt Sucich, a singer-songwriter from Astoria, Queens, was already in the middle of his set. His voice and guitar strumming filled the room where Stage 3 is located. The sound was a little too close to country for me, the only type of music I can’t stomach, but the crowd seemed to be enjoying it. You can listen to Sucich’s single, “Mirages,” here.

Bluesy rock band Foxtrot & the Get Down made their way over from Philly to play at Rockwood. Vocalist Colin Budny fastened his harmonica around his neck, and the music began. Fox Trot & the Get Down is made up of Colin Budny on vocals and guitar, Ryan Fox on drums, Ken Bianco on bass and piano, and Erica Ruiz on vocals and piano. “Sold the Soul,” a feel-good tune from Foxtrot is now available on iTunes.

Fox Trot & the Get Down

Hannah Read and her guitar backup were serenading the audience at Stage 3. A singer-songwriter-fiddler, Read is from Edinburgh, Scotland and currently lives in Brooklyn. Read finished the song on violin, her guitarist complimenting the delicate sounds, and switched out her violin for an acoustic guitar. The next song she played was about the memories of a family home she often visited as a child in England, which was eventually sold. The way her face twisted and grimaced as she sand each word told of the emotions connecting her to the story she was telling through song.

Hannah Read

Electronic duo Shallou brought catchy synth beats to Rockwood and livened up the Stage 2 area. Before ending their set, the drummer performed a drum solo to which the crowd broke out in applause. He feverishly created a catchy rhythm that lasted for a couple minutes. Shallou’s new single, “Doubt,” is out now.

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Hollis Brown changed up the atmosphere from Shallou. It went from electronic rock to straight rock n’ roll with a slight garage sound. It didn’t matter what kind of music they played, because their liveliness was exciting enough to hold the crowd’s attention. Hollis brown is Mike Montali, Jon Bonilla, Dillon DeVito, Andrew, Zehnal, and Adam Bock. Each member delved deep into his technique, and it showed on stage. Check out Hollis Brown’s new album, “3 Shots,” here.