Berlin Under A New York, NY
Web: rlyblonde.com
Contact: heather@notdeadyetmedia.com
Players: Carina Allen (rlyblonde), vocals, guitar; Rob Guariglia, vocals; Micah Prussack, bass; Alex Fontini, drums
On Friday the 13th, rlyblonde kicked off her third annual Valentine’s Day show in New York City. Hosted in the intimate and moody Berlin Under A, rlyblonde went above and beyond to provide a unique experience. Opening act Molly Frances delivered a raw, acoustic set, and was followed by a formidable performance from hard rock group Lip Bomb. A homemade heart shaped cake and a tarot reader were also included as gifts to the audience once rlyblonde took to the stage.
The show included tracks from both rlyblonde’s EPs Star of the Show and Fantasy, hitting on all of her top tracks. Many tracks blended guitar-driven rock elements with wistful sentimentality. In “Hollywood,” a passionate melody and heavily distorted riff from Guariglia hit as a wall at the chorus, but biting lyrics reflected on missed connections and homesickness. Similarly, “Karaoke” juxtaposed bright guitar and an earworm of a chorus with a cheeky story about an uncertain relationship, while break up track “Your Angel” poured a slow melody with soaring vocals over powerful downbeats from Guariglia and Prussack.
“Star of the Show” delivered on attitude, giving syrupy vocals supported by a swirling guitar line and clocklike drums. The beat ticked ahead while rlyblonde, slightly sarcastic and drawling, offered to be an ingénue for the night. “Dumb Blonde” brought the energy, with gritty and sharp lyrics, featuring a breakdown section for a blistering guitar solo from Guariglia and dancing in the crowd.
“Girl in your Story” and “Icon Baby” highlighted a sweeter side, underscored by yearning and a lilting melody. Fontini’s drums kept the tracks from slowing into true ballads, but an earnestness in the vocals and instrumentals still conveyed twisting emotions.
As an extra treat, rlyblonde debuted a few unreleased tracks, including her cover of *NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye.” Her rock take on the pop classic was fun and fresh, fitting for a Valentine’s Day show. It felt perfect for a fun romcom.
After the show, rlyblonde cut the heart shaped cake and served it to the audience, thanking them for coming. The stage transitioned to karaoke, keeping energy up through the end of the night. After a year hiatus, rlyblonde is gearing up to release new music this year, including her “Bye Bye Bye” cover. More information on upcoming shows and music can be found on her website.
