Alex G, Nilüfer Yanya
Alex G and Nilüfer Yanya at The Anthem in Washington, D.C., October seventh, 2025
Oct 20, 2025
Images by Wendy Lynch Redfern
Net Unique
This previous summer season my 12-year-old daughter Rose and I have been on the Tough Commerce document retailer on Denmark Road in London’s West Finish. The road is also called Tin Pan Alley as a result of its lengthy historical past of music instrument shops, sheet music outlets, and even recording studios. Generally Rose is a bit non-public in regards to the music she likes. Rising up with mother and father who run a music journal she understandably worries we would both criticize her tastes (not that we ever would) or get too overwhelming if it’s an artist we additionally respect (extra seemingly). At Tough Commerce she ran over to me excitedly to inform me that they had a number of information by an artist she loves, certainly one of her Prime 3 favorites and one whose LPs she by no means actually sees at different document shops I drag her to. At first she was reluctant to disclose which artist, saying I’d in all probability by no means heard of them. However then she relented and confirmed me their part. It was Alex G. Rose was stunned after I informed her that Alex G was not solely an artist I knew however one we’d lined in Beneath the Radar in a good quantity. We’d even interviewed him as soon as.
In all honesty, Alex G (full title Alexander Giannascoli) shouldn’t be an artist I’ve listened to lots through the years and regardless of some effort when he was initially getting some hype, I’d by no means absolutely related along with his music. Nonetheless, once we have been later again residence in Virginia and Rose informed me that Alex G was enjoying comparatively close to to us, at The Anthem in Washington, D.C., and she or he actually needed to go, who was I to say no? She’d been to loads of concert events with us earlier than, together with Pulp, The Struggle on Medication, Father John Misty, and others. However all of these had been artists we’d needed to see that she tagged alongside to. After we noticed Jessie Ware in 2023 and Magdalena Bay in 2024, each on the 9:30 Membership in Washington, D.C., these have been artists she beloved and have been excited to see, however they have been nonetheless ones I had launched her to. Alex G was the primary artist she’d found on her personal that she had requested to go see. One drawback, it was on a Tuesday and Washington, D.C. is a three-hour drive every manner for us, which equals a really late college night time outing. College night time reveals aren’t one thing we are able to make a behavior of, however on this case it felt warranted. Plus it didn’t harm that an artist I do love, Nilüfer Yanya (who’s been on the duvet of our print journal twice), was opening. So emails to the publicist have been despatched and press tickets have been secured.
To organize, I put collectively a playlist of all of the songs Alex G was prone to carry out, primarily based on current setlists discovered on-line, and I mainlined that for a number of days, in addition to on the lengthy drive to D.C. I did achieve a brand new appreciation for his music, particularly his present album, this yr’s Headlights (his main label debut for RCA and his greatest produced album but). However I used to be nonetheless a little bit apprehensive about what to anticipate. He tends to play lengthy units with numerous songs. Would I ultimately get bored, as Rose generally does once we take her to reveals by artists she’s not all that invested in?
First up although was Yanya. We left for D.C. quickly after college was out and even ate dinner within the automotive on the way in which there, making it to The Anthem solely 10 minutes earlier than the British singer/guitarist took the stage. We had really all simply seen Yanya do a headlining set at The Broadberry in Richmond, VA a number of weeks earlier (learn my evaluation right here), so we had some thought what to anticipate. The Broadberry, nevertheless, has a capability of solely 350 and The Anthem matches 6,000 individuals. Yanya greater than rose to the event. It appeared that a whole lot of Alex G’s followers have been aware of her (or had accomplished their homework) and have been wanting to see her, primarily based on the preliminary viewers response when she took the stage. Not like her present in Richmond, or the Pulp present we noticed at The Anthem weeks earlier, the place the attendees consisted primarily of 30-60 yr olds, Alex G’s viewers was a whole lot of teenagers and 20-somethings, in addition to some tweens and 30-somethings. Wendy and I have been on the older facet. As she did at The Broadberry, Yanya opened with “Technique Actor,” the just about title monitor to her newest album, My Technique Actor, which was #2 on our Prime 100 Albums of 2024 checklist and landed Yanya on the duvet of Challenge 73. Album spotlight “Like I Say (I runaway)” went over notably properly and it was very nice seeing Yanya win over such a big crowd after very lately watching her carry out to so few. Yanya excelled in each areas, clearly simply as in a position to command the principle stage at a giant pageant as she is to spellbind the viewers at an intimate venue. She is aided by her very succesful band. Touring saxophonist/keyboardist Jazzi Bobbi is her secret weapon. Wilma Archer, a solo artist in his personal proper and Yanya’s principal collaborator within the studio, notably shined on set-closer “midnight solar.” Drummer Ellis Dupuy additionally actually impressed with a number of the difficult rhythms he pulled off. Total, Yanya and band sounded extra muscular than at The Broadberry, little doubt because of the greater soundsystem and bigger house at The Anthem.
“We’re actually excited to open for Alex G tonight. We’ve been doing the entire tour. It’s been actually, actually good,” Yanya stated from the stage. Later within the set she added, “They’ve been very variety to us on this tour,” referring to Alex G and his band. Yanya carried out eight songs, together with her cowl of PJ Harvey’s “Rid of Me,” a daily characteristic of her set lists.
Throughout a little bit of a break whereas the stage was adjusted a girl in entrance of us collapsed, virtually falling on Rose. The group round us sprang into motion, calling safety over and medics took her out in a wheelchair. We by no means discovered why she collapsed (she didn’t have anybody along with her) or if she was okay, though Wendy stated she noticed her in a while the way in which again from the picture pit and she or he appeared to be aware and recovering.
Then it was Alex G’s flip to take the stage and I nonetheless wasn’t certain what to anticipate. Firstly, whereas his information are generally a little bit stripped again and lo-fi, he was joined by his full band—Sam Acchione (guitar), John Heywood (bass), and Tom Kelly (drums). They opened with “Louisiana,” which falls halfway in Headlights’ tracklist and it rocked out much more dwell than on album, aided by a guitar solo. The following track, “Gretel,” from 2019’s Home of Sugar, was additionally a lot louder than anticipated. The viewers erupted right into a mass singalong of the “I don’t wanna return” refrain, with a sea of telephones aloft recording the track.
“Oh God, I like this track!” screamed a lady in entrance of me as Alex G launched into Headlights’ “June Guitar.” Giannascoli performed accordion on the track, not one thing you see at most rock reveals outdoors of “Bizarre Al” Yankovic. “Runner,” from 2022’s God Save the Animals, was adopted by “Actual Factor,” certainly one of my favourite songs from Headlights (I similar to the upper inflection on his voice when he sings “the true factor” and a keyboard flourish that sounds very ’80s, performed dwell by guitarist Acchione). One other Headlights favourite “Beam Me Up” was subsequent. I’m a little bit of Trekkie and Rose has been compelled to observe her fair proportion of Star Trek reveals and flicks. She appreciates the extra fashionable films starring Chris Pine as Captain Kirk and the animated present Decrease Decks, however rejects most different Star Trek. I hoped to persuade her that certainly one of her favourite musicians was a Trekkie, however aside from the refrain mentioning “beam me up inside,” the track has nothing to do with the Starship Enterprise, however as a substitute is partially about commerce vs. artwork. It additionally options some soccer references and sports activities and Trek are sometimes unusual bedfellows. The Headlights run of songs continued with single “Afterlife,” which featured guitarist Acchione on mandolin, as on the album model.
“Alright, we must always play ‘Monster Mash,’” Giannascoli stated, acknowledging it was spooky season. “Take it away John,” he stated to the bassist, who then began to sing the Halloween basic. The entire thing was a faux out although and shortly the track abruptly was “Brick,” from 2017’s Rocket, again when he needed to go below the title (Sandy) Alex G as a result of a authorized dispute that’s since been resolved. It’s one of many extra abrasive songs they performed at The Anthem.
A spotlight was “Blessing,” from God Save the Animals. The distinctive monitor options whispered vocals by Giannascoli with surprising backing vocal grunts. As on the LP, the track explodes on the finish with a John Carpenter-esque keyboard half, throughout which Giannascoli climbed up the scaffolding behind the band that featured numerous lights, shaking his ass for all to see, after which climbing again down in time for the track’s abrupt finish.
There was hardly any banter with the viewers, barely a second to catch your breath between songs as every track bled into the following one. God Save the Animals’ “Immunity” featured an expressive keyboard solo from Giannascoli and briefly took issues into jazz territory, as did the instrumental “Is it Nonetheless You in There?” (lacking the feminine backing vocals from the Headlights album model), with hopes that Yanya’s Jazzi Bobbi would come out to hitch in on sax (it didn’t occur alas).
The band ended the 20-song principal set with Headlights’ title monitor. They weren’t gone lengthy earlier than they returned as Los Lonely Boys’ “How Far is Heaven” performed within the background (“certainly one of our favorites,” Giannascoli stated of the track). They did an additional seven songs within the encore, beginning with Headlights’ “Far and Huge,” which is a duet between Giannascoli and bassist Heywood, with the latter sounding like John Darnielle from The Mountain Goats. Reside the track had a little bit of a Muppets vibe not discovered on the album model, you can image Kermit the Frog and Skeeter singing Giannascoli’s half, which is not any unhealthy factor.
“We haven’t accomplished this one in a extremely very long time. And it’s for our buddy Amy,” stated guitarist Acchione earlier than they carried out “The Identical,” from 2010’s Race. The web says they haven’t performed it dwell since 2014.
“What else do you wish to hear?” Giannascoli then requested the viewers, to be flooded by track solutions shouted again. It did seem that the band appear to plan the encore on the fly considerably, deciding what to play on the night time. “Snot,” “Gnaw,” “Keep in mind,” “Highly effective Man,” and eventually “Playing cards” made up the remainder of the encore. Acchione took the time to thank the crew, together with one man named Harrison Ford. “That’s his title, I shit you not,” Acchione assured.
I went into the live performance frightened that I used to be in for a lo-fi slog. On his studio albums, particularly the sooner ones, a number of the songs are fairly quick and sparse and don’t all the time make a big effect on me. However throughout the 27 songs I used to be by no means bored. Giannascoli’s band was unbelievable. The present was one of many loudest in current reminiscence. And the songs featured assorted tones and devices and weren’t as one-note as I feared. I may simply see Alex G and his band holding their very own on pageant principal stage payments alongside the likes of The Struggle on Medication, Constructed to Spill, Modest Mouse, and even Bruce Springsteen.
Afterwards Rose was nervous to listen to my evaluation and after being briefly coy, I informed her I used to be a full-on Alex G convert and 100% impressed. However who cares what I believed? Rose was who mattered essentially the most tonight.
At one level throughout the live performance she turned to me and stated, “That one was my favourite track from the brand new album and the one earlier than was my second favourite, so I’m joyful.” And that was actually all I may actually ask for.
