On the hottest day in Scotland so far this year, ALT BLK ERA and their crew brought the heat to the Garage’s G2 with a support lineup of local performers Kleo and Lo Rays. Kleo has got to have one of the most interesting concepts that I’ve heard in a while, performing as what is to be conceived as an AI artist with all the creativity and none of the actual AI. She creates hyperpop/darkpop music while exploring and unpacking topics of consumerism and what it’s like growing as an artist in an age where artificial intelligence is at an all-time high – especially within the music and performing arts scene. On the other hand, Lo Rays are a very dystopian rock/metal band that bring the energy of a post-apocalyptic herd leading people through a future where AI is no more. Think Mad Max but with more synth!
I unfortunately was unable to catch Kleo’s performance due to yet another fire near the train tracks, which I am so utterly gutted about. From what I heard, though, her performance was energetic and she fuelled the crowd with her electronic instrumentals and beautifully structured vocals, like a siren calling sailors into the depths of the sea. I really enjoy her musical style and love her song “Machina” from her debut EP Machina. Kleo was a great pick by the team for the opening act, really encapsulating the electronic elements that would carry on throughout the night.
Lo Rays, a band straight from Glasgow, took the stage next, keeping the crowd upbeat and hyped up for their headliners. They played songs “Knee High”, “Scapegoat”, and “Cease and Desist”, all off their new EP RE:BIRTH SEQUENCE. This new piece of music comes highly recommended by me, and I think it is a great sound to hear coming from Glasgow! The crowd interaction the band had was incredible; they completely controlled the room and made the whole place bounce. Not one person looked like they were having a bad time. This band played the venue like they were playing an arena, bringing the energy and stage presence of a well-defined musical artist. Lo Rays recently played a show in Edinburgh’s iconic La Belle Angele venue at a three-day music convention known as Wide Days, which is actually how I first heard of them! Both of the performances I’ve seen were full of energy and life, and it is really refreshing to hear some more synth-metal coming into the scene. I cannot wait to see where their career takes them, and with supporting the likes of huge up-and-comers ALT BLK ERA, I feel rest assured they will be going far!
Sisters Nyrobi and Chaya of ALT BLK ERA entered the stage with a quiet, calm, and serene presence in their iconic white (Nyrobi) and black (Chaya) staple colour arrangements, opening with the title track from their brand-new EP Our World. A song about injustice, the modern world we are living in, and how alternative and minority communities deserve a place that makes them feel safe, happy, and empowered. Both vocalists delicately made their way into the crowd for this song, showing their love, connection, and appreciation for the community they have created and are a part of themselves. This powerful bond is something Nyrobi spoke about in depth during our recent video interview.
For those who are new to hearing about this band, they have garnered huge success at such a young age, with Nyrobi at 21 and Chaya just 19! The vibe of the night instantly switched into more party bangers from their last album Rave Immortal, featuring songs that helped break their career such as “My Drummer’s Girlfriend” and “Come Fight Me For It” – both tracks that also gained large amounts of popularity on social media, in particular TikTok.
The crowd was intimate, but this meant that every person there knew all of the lyrics to pretty much all of the songs, making the performance feel like less of a show and more of a gathering of similar souls. Throughout the night they played through the rest of their new EP while mixing in deep cuts from the early days of their career four years ago. I can’t say I was expecting to hear “I’m Normally Like This”, but it was a night-altering experience, especially for die-hard fans.
The band ended the night with their top hit “Run Rabbit”, which is a household name at this point with its almost 10,000,000 streams on services across the internet. The crowd were definitely louder than our on-stage friends. It was an electrifying night filled with new friendships, solidarity, and a shared love for the band that is ALT BLK ERA.
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