KALEO & BISHOP BRIGGS SELL OUT IRVING PLAZA

The bold, bluesy-rockers, Kaleo, with support from Bishop Briggs, sold out two shows at Irving Plaza Thursday and Friday night. The Icelandic four-piece that has taken up roots in Austin, Texas combines multiple music genres to produce a sound somewhere between bold-blues, rock and country.

The rising queen of dark pop, Bishop Briggs, has been supporting Kaleo on The Handprint Tour. Without an introduction, the alter-ego of Sarah Grace McLaughlin launched into a gripping performance. She combines haunting echoes, like in “Be Your Love,” with brooding lyrics and electronic drops. The crowd witnessed Briggs’ vocal prowess as she stomped and jumped to the percussion of “Wild Horses” and keeled over while belting “River.” Bishop Briggs is lyrical musings from the dark corners of your mind. And after a performance like the one she produced, we’re all wondering, when is she going to release her first album?

Bishop Briggs

Kaleo has played continuously over the past year, including performances in 45 states. On stage, the group has a relaxed approach. They opened with a somber intro and focused lighting before playing a series of songs from their debut LP, A/B (released on June 10, 2016). Frontman, JJ Julius Son’s gritty vocals eased the crowd into the set as he sang “the devil’s going to set me free/ the devil’s going to make me a free man.” Shortly after, Kaleo switched gears to the twangy, country jam “Automobile.” The crowd was most excited when the first few notes of the band’s most popular song, “All The Pretty Girls,” started. Everyone sang, “so won’t you lay me, won’t you lay me down.”

Kaleo

The foursome gained increased recognition after their single “No Good” appeared on HBO’s Vinyl. Kaleo will continue its tour in the United States through mid-November before heading to Europe.