UNI DAZZLE WITH BASS-HEAVY GLAM ROCK AT BABY’S ALL RIGHT

Uni were three seconds into their third show ever when that fleeting feeling returned. Sinking into their arena-rock riffs – particularly on opener “What’s The Problem?”, their first single – is like returning to the beach; you forget just how good it feels until you’re digging your toes in the sand again. After their truly badass debut at Rough Trade just a few months ago, the brainchild of Charlotte Kemp Muhl (GOASTT), David Strange (former tour guitarist for Courtney Love), and lead singer Nico Fuzz was once again exploding with onstage synergy at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn. Uni’s free, early show brought in a dense crowd, helmed by a few tripped-out thrashers who threw themselves all over the room.

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The worship was well deserved as Charlotte tore into big, nasty licks on her glitter-smothered bass, and David, in his aura of rockstar energy, seduced cool riffs from his double-neck guitar. Backed by their hard-hitting impacts and a strong foundation of drums and keys, Nico was in his element, bringing the sultry vocals and glam rock energy that makes him everything a frontman should be. As they introduced the audience to “Mushroom Cloud,” “Orgy on the Moon,” and their gritty, feel-good showstopper, “Adult Video,” it was hard to even pick someone to focus on – not only because they perform like such true rockers, but because they dress like them too. Charlotte looked radiant and lithe in her sequined New York shirt, long, flowing pants, and death-defying platform shoes. Nico, in a tee that read “CREEP SHOW,” wore a focused gaze that pierced through the layers of glitter on his face.

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Uni wasted no time with words, rocking straight through songs titled “DDT,” “Bayonet,” “Greed,” and “Kali” on their setlist, each one brimming with 70s-era grooves and the possibilities of a whole new divergent scene. Their only statement to the crowd came from Nico, who simply commented “I quite like these lights,” just as Baby’s grid of ashtray bulbs was glowing a sinister red behind them. Clearly, though, they didn’t need to say anything, and they let their authentic, psych-tinged shredding satisfy the horde of new fans. Banging out a big finale with “Strongest Man” and an “Electric Universe” that filled every sliver of space in the darkened room, the fivesome were locked in with each other and visibly loving it – a vibe that was contagious and swept the audience in seconds.

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In one of the best candid moments of Uni’s whole show, Nico snuck up to dance behind David during one of his searing solos – who suddenly broke into laughter when he found himself in Nico’s embrace. It was such a quick thing, they may not even remember it themselves. But that single moment of giddy, mid-performance bliss seemed to embody every reason we love them.

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Article: Olivia Isenhart

Photos: Anthony Mulcahy