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 file retailer on Denmark Avenue in London’s West Finish. The road is often known as Tin Pan Alley as a result of its lengthy historical past of music instrument shops, sheet music retailers, and even recording studios. Typically Rose is a bit non-public concerning 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 recognize (extra probably). At Tough Commerce she ran over to me excitedly to inform me they’d a number of information by an artist she loves, one among her High 3 favorites and one whose LPs she by no means actually sees at different file shops I drag her to. At first she was reluctant to disclose which artist, saying I’d most likely by no means heard of them. However then she relented and confirmed me their part. It was Alex G. Rose was stunned once I instructed 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) is just not an artist I’ve listened to loads over time and regardless of some effort when he was initially getting some hype, I’d by no means absolutely linked together with his music. Nonetheless, after we have been later again dwelling in Virginia and Rose instructed me that Alex G was taking part in 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 Warfare on Medicine, Father John Misty, and others. However all of these had been artists we’d needed to see that she tagged alongside to. Once 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 liked 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 downside, it was on a Tuesday and Washington, D.C. is a three-hour drive every method for us, which equals a really late faculty evening outing. College evening exhibits aren’t one thing we will 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 quilt 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 more likely 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 finest produced album but). However I used to be nonetheless a bit of apprehensive about what to anticipate. He tends to play lengthy units with plenty of songs. Would I ultimately get bored, as Rose generally does after we take her to exhibits by artists she’s not all that invested in?
First up although was Yanya. We left for D.C. quickly after faculty 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 truly all simply seen Yanya do a headlining set at The Broadberry in Richmond, VA just a few weeks earlier (learn my evaluate right here), so we had some concept what to anticipate. The Broadberry, nonetheless, has a capability of solely 350 and The Anthem suits 6,000 folks. Yanya greater than rose to the event. It appeared that loads of Alex G’s followers have been conversant in her (or had completed their homework) and have been desirous to see her, primarily based on the preliminary viewers response when she took the stage. In contrast to 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 loads 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 “Methodology Actor,” the just about title monitor to her newest album, My Methodology Actor, which was #2 on our High 100 Albums of 2024 record and landed Yanya on the quilt of Difficulty 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 just lately watching her carry out to so few. Yanya excelled in each areas, clearly simply as capable of command the principle stage at an enormous 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 predominant collaborator within the studio, notably shined on set-closer “midnight solar.” Drummer Ellis Dupuy additionally actually impressed with a few of the sophisticated rhythms he pulled off. General, Yanya and band sounded extra muscular than at The Broadberry, little question as a result of larger 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 form 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 lady 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 together with her) or if she was okay, though Wendy stated she noticed her afterward the way in which again from the picture pit and she or he appeared to be acutely aware and recovering.
Then it was Alex G’s flip to take the stage and I nonetheless wasn’t positive what to anticipate. Firstly, whereas his information are generally a bit of 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 reside than on album, aided by a guitar solo. The subsequent 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 woman 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 exhibits exterior of “Bizarre Al” Yankovic. “Runner,” from 2022’s God Save the Animals, was adopted by “Actual Factor,” one among my favourite songs from Headlights (I similar to the upper inflection on his voice when he sings “the actual factor” and a keyboard flourish that sounds very ’80s, performed reside 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 justifiable share of Star Trek exhibits and films. She appreciates the extra trendy 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 one among her favourite musicians was a Trekkie, however other than the refrain mentioning “beam me up inside,” the track has nothing to do with the Starship Enterprise, however as an alternative 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 pretend out although and shortly the track abruptly become “Brick,” from 2017’s Rocket, again when he needed to go beneath 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 sudden 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 varied 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 subsequent 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 predominant 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 (“one among our favorites,” Giannascoli stated of the track). They did an additional seven songs within the encore, beginning with Headlights’ “Far and Vast,” which is a duet between Giannascoli and bassist Heywood, with the latter sounding like John Darnielle from The Mountain Goats. Stay the track had a little bit of a Muppets vibe not discovered on the album model, you may image Kermit the Frog and Skeeter singing Giannascoli’s half, which isn’t any dangerous factor.
“We haven’t completed this one in a extremely very long time. And it’s for our good friend Amy,” stated guitarist Acchione earlier than they carried out “The Similar,” from 2010’s Race. The web says they haven’t performed it reside since 2014.
“What else do you wish to hear?” Giannascoli then requested the viewers, to be flooded by track options shouted again. It did seem that the band appear to plan the encore on the fly considerably, deciding what to play on the evening. “Snot,” “Gnaw,” “Bear in mind,” “Highly effective Man,” and at last “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 few of the songs are fairly brief and sparse and don’t at all times 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 various 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 predominant stage payments alongside the likes of The Warfare on Medicine, Constructed to Spill, Modest Mouse, and even Bruce Springsteen.
Afterwards Rose was nervous to listen to my evaluation and after being briefly coy, I instructed 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 pleased.” And that was actually all I may actually ask for.