Hesitating briefly and then leaning into the microphone to murmur in his airy, melodic voice, Leighton Antelman told the Bowery Ballroom, “We’re going to do one more of off that record, if that’s all right.” His humble smugness and the crowd’s vehemently enthusiastic response characterized Lydia’s Farewell & Goodbye August 7 show at one of New York City’s most famous, intimate venues. The band had just finished up “Hospital” off of Illuminate and then launched into the third song of the night, “Stay Awake.” A heavy, united whisper filled the room as the audience swayed and sang lightly under Leighton’s chillingly strong voice, nearing numbness but wrought with emotion.
“We Clean Up So Well” had opened the show with a sarcastic anger, very clearly showing at least a piece of Leighton’s reaction to Mindy White’s departure and the imminent end of Lydia. Literally spitting through “Sure as hell like a picture,” Leighton brought the same raw honesty to the stage of the Bowery that he has to any studio recording over the past 5 years. But, on this particular night, his slight smile and understated attitude were overpowered by his delaying eyes: The band stayed on stage for a full 14-song set that began at 11:15pm, only to return and play a 2-song encore and wrap up the show at 12:40am. And the crowd, having stood through three opening acts, remained beyond engaged. Leighton repeatedly thanked them, crediting them with the existence of his band. “I heard a few of you singing along before—would you be interested in doing that again?” he coyly asked. The crowd cheered. “The chorus of this one goes ‘Don’t you ever get lonely?’ So you just sing that part?” His boyish grin broke to an icy voice, aiding the crowd with the “yeah”’s of “A Fine Evening For Rogue.”
“We’re going to illuminate this shit,” Leighton promised early in his set, and he was true to his word, playing over half of the record throughout the set. But, doubtlessly nostalgic, Leighton returned to the first track of the first album ever released, “Smile, You’ve Won.”
“Always Move Fast,” also off of the debut album, drew a particular attentive audience. Only the sound of Leighton’s insistent voice, Leighton’s pick on his guitar strings, and Leighton’s guitar filled the high-ceilinged room. A pin dropped would have echoed through the hall. The stillness in the room grew thick as Leighton’s lyrics live continually built and destroyed it.
Assailants also penetrated the night, escaping through Leighton’s vocal heaves and scattered through the set. Many rushed to the merchandise booth following the show to pick up the record on CD. Leighton also mentioned that he’d love to meet everyone in the room and that we should all swing on by. The bouncers at the Bowery were slightly less enthralled with the 500 guests cramming into a single stairwell to meet Leighton and Craig, but they were doing the full rounds and enjoying every second of being Lydia on this tour.
“This Is Twice Now” closed the show. Already 9 songs into the set, Leighton had checked with a manager on stage right and said he’d have one song, and then another few. Then he left. Then he came back, with another two promised. The room vibrated with the true closer everyone knew Lydia would play. And when Leighton sang the closing bars and stage lights went off in favor of house lights, the satisfied sigh in the room quickly gave way to a hollowing appreciation. Lydia had bid New York fare well in a musically dignified, thorough enjoyment.
Setlist:
We Clean Up So Well
Hospital
Stay Awake
Always Move Fast
Her And Haley
A Fine Evening For A Rogue
December
I Woke Up Near The Sea
Empty Out Your Stomach
It’s In Your Blood
Smile, You’ve Won
A Camera Lens And Careful Days
One More Day
Near The City
Assailants
-Encore-
A Story For Supper
This Is Twice Now
*This review was composed by Emily Coch
