Joey Valence and Brae, for the uninitiated, are what you get when you combine Beastie Boys flow with club and rave music, and the result is music that has insanely hard bars and makes you wanna shake ass, and their newest album, HYPERYOUTH, is all that and more.
You can tell they took the time to make their third album a lot more mature, with a focus on making music that people will want to dance to, but with songwriting that still makes you feel something.
As someone who has had Joey Valence and Brae in my top 5 artists for the last three years, I was extremely hyped (no pun intended) for HYPERYOUTH, and when I saw they were touring, I immediately bought tickets to their NYC show in October.
When I saw they were doing a free show before the album dropped in Hollywood on July 29th, my first thought was “WHY DOES IT ALWAYS HAVE TO BE IN LA, WHY CAN’T IT BE IN NEW YORK?”
Thankfully, my wish came true right after the album dropped, with this free show in Central Park on August 20th, on the Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage.
The stage was decorated with a giant Disco ball with horns like the cover of the album, and a smaller version of it to the side
Before the show started, they played music on the speakers for those of us who arrived when the doors opened. At a certain point, about 45 minutes before the show started, they played the entirety of the new album, which was awesome because the fans were able to basically have a live listening party, all singing along and chanting JVB.
One unfortunate part about the show was the fact that it rained the entire time. I’m not a big fan of the rain, but to be completely honest, the show was so fun that it made it worth the pouring rain. And JVB made sure to let the fans know they appreciated it, saying:
“Y’all got huge pussies for coming out tonight in this rain.”
When Joey Valence and Brae came on stage, you could feel their infectious enthusiasm and excitement right off the bat. Absolute Banger after Banger after Banger, from throughout their whole discography
PUNK TACTICS, THE BADDEST, WASSUP, some of their most popular and energetic songs were absolute crowd pleasers
But to me, the most memorable were the more introspective and lyrical songs, partly because of the insane bars like BUST DOWN with the line “Sydney Sweeney call me and I hang up” which had a huge reaction from the crowd, but also because of the emotional resonance some of these songs, like IS THIS LOVE and the closer, DISCO TOMORROW
One of the songs that stood out to me the most was LIVE RIGHT.
I really resonated with the chorus when I first heard it, and hearing it live made me feel emotional.
“I’m kinda scared to admit I’m afraid of growing up.
No one here wants to dance.
Things are changing.
As long as I got my friends, As long as I got my friends, As long as I got my friends
don’t want this shit to end”
Seeing them live really just proves that these guys really do love what they do, and the fans can really feel it.
“You won’t really understand until you see it live.”
If you missed it, check out the VOD on Twitch
And if you can, check out JVBSUCKS.COM and give them some love on their social media pages
Pics from the show
About the author
Joey Valence & Brae Turn Central Park’s SummerStage into a Club
Joey Valence and Brae, for the uninitiated, are what you get when you combine Beastie Boys flow with club and rave music, and the result is music that has insanely hard bars and makes you wanna shake ass, and their newest album, HYPERYOUTH, is all that and more. You can tell they took the time to make their third album a lot more mature, with a focus on making music that people will want to dance to, but with songwriting that still makes you feel something. As someone who has had Joey Valence and Brae in my top 5 artists for the last three years, I was extremely hyped (no pun intended) for HYPERYOUTH, and when I saw they were touring, I immediately bought tickets to their NYC show in October. When I saw they were doing a free show […]
TV REVIEW 📺: The Live-Action ‘One Piece’ is real
https://youtu.be/Ades3pQbeh8 Netflix released the first season of its live-action adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s best-selling manga and anime, One Piece, right before Labor Day Weekend. As some will know, live-action adaptions of animated series don’t often go well, most notably Avatar: The Last Airbender, Dragon Ball: Evolution, and most recently, Netflix’s own 2021 Cowboy Beebop. However, I’m glad to say that Netflix has broken the live-action curse and completely outdone itself. Thanks to the absolute love, devotion, and attention to detail the production team has put into it, One Piece is one of, if not the best, live-action adaptation of an animated series or manga. The show follows Monkey D. Luffy, a carefree young man who dreams of becoming king of the pirates and finding the titular One Piece, the treasure of the Legendary pirate, Gold Roger. The king of the pirates was executed by the Marines and, in […]
Related
Broadway in Bryant Park Takes Its Final Bow for the 2024 Season
NEW YORK CITY, NY - The much-anticipated Broadway in Bryant Park series finished its 2024 season on August 1 with amazing performances. Organized by 106.7 LITE FM and iHeartRadio Broadway, this free lunchtime concert series is a summer favorite in New York City, letting people enjoy Broadway's best shows in the open air. The final event of this year's series had a variety of shows, showing the lively spirit of Broadway. The last performances included parts of famous musicals like "Wicked," "& Juliet," "SIX The Musical," and the new hit "The Outsiders." These shows took place from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM and attracted big crowds to Bryant Park, creating a fun and friendly atmosphere. Large crowds gathered in Bryant Park despite the hot weather This season's series began on July 11 and featured different Broadway hits each Thursday, ending […]
Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Make a Grand Return After 10 Years
NEW YORK CITY, NY - The Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Show lit up the skies over New York City. Known as the biggest Independence Day celebration in the country, it attracted millions of people both in-person and through live broadcasts. This year's fireworks were launched from several barges on the Hudson River for the first time in 10 years. The main launch area was from West 14th Street to West 34th Street in Manhattan. This setup allowed great views from different parts of New York City, and parts of New Jersey. I watched the fireworks from Hudson Yards, near The Vessel. Although The Vessel has been closed for a couple of years, the general area around it provided a fantastic spot with a nice view of the water and fireworks. For guests who purchased tickets in advance, there were […]
2024 NYC Pride Parade Celebrates 40 Years
NEW YORK CITY, NY - On June 30th, 2024, New York City celebrated its 40th annual Pride Parade with a colorful and joyful event. The parade started at 12:00 PM at the corner of 25th Street and 5th Avenue. It moved through the heart of Manhattan, with a sea of rainbow flags and excited people. Millions of people lined the streets to join the fun, showing the strong spirit of the LGBTQ+ community. Seven special grand marshals led the 2024 NYC Pride Parade: Baddie Brooks, DaShawn Usher, Eshe Ukwell, Michelle Visage, Miss Major, Robin Drake, and Raquel Willis. Each of them has done a lot to support equality and representation, showing the diverse voices and stories within the LGBTQ+ community. The theme of this year’s parade was “Reflect.” It encouraged everyone to think about the progress made since the first […]
Once Upon a Time in New York – Into the Woods Reimagined
Fairy tales meet the Big Apple in this modern musical rendition of Into the Woods. Written in collaboration with Stephen Cooney
Innovative Designs and Timeless Classics Steal the Spotlight at 2024 New York International Auto Show
A custom NYIAS art display was up for viewing near the luxury cars display NEW YORK CITY, NY – The New York International Auto Show, held from March 29 to April 7, 2024, at the Jacob Javits Center, was a major event in the world of automotive excellence. Known as the oldest and largest auto show in North America, it featured exciting new vehicle debuts and celebrated significant milestones in automotive history. Three vehicles stood out as personal favorites: the Genesis Magma, the 1949 Volkswagen Beetle – Type 1, and the Mustang GTD. Genesis Magma: A Glimpse into the Future The Genesis Magma concept car grabbed a lot of attention. Its futuristic design and cutting-edge features reflect the innovative approach Genesis is known for. The Magma’s bold lines and advanced technology fascinated many visitors. The Genesis Magma Concept Car on […]
Billy Joel visits his exhibit at the LI Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame
Billy Joel: My Life- A Piano Man's Journey opened to the public on November 24th.
