Mere hours before the debut of their new album Better Dreaming, Tune-Yards showcased their jubilant and carnal performance style at the sold-out Nightclub 101 in the East Village. For the crowd, filled with longtime devotees and dear friends of the band, it was a night that felt as intimate as a house show.

Nightclub 101, with its 200-person capacity and bones of a DIY venue, gave creative powerhouse and lead vocalist Merrill Garbus the space with the raw charm and authenticity that Tune-Yards music thrives upon. Various colored foam covering most of the walls, it was soundproofed to the point of feeling looking like an inviting asylum. You felt safe in the chaos, bathed in sound.

JayWood opened with a mellow, groove-laced set that channeled breezy indie rock with flashes of funky neo-soul. Think Dispatch meets Steve Lacy, with a cruising-down-the-coast energy and infectious hooks. His nonchalant charisma and kinetic band made for a perfect warm up. Merrill joined him for a song mid-set, which had the room grinning early on.

Then came Tune-Yards.

To the surprise of the audience, Rather than a grand entrance, Garbus and her bandmate Nate Brenner (on bass and synth), walked on stage and not only began setting up their own gear but helped JayWood with theirs as well. That aura of generosity and goodwill is shown throughout Garbus’s lyrics and performance.

Garbus began the set harmonizing with herself in layered loops, building songs piece by piece with her signature pedal wizardry. Her voice, equal parts percussion and melody, filled the room with a blissful cacophony of sound. She sang with her whole body—stomping, gesturing, dancing like the songs were being summoned through her limbs. Her entire face stretching to birth every note with as much passion as possible.

The setlist moved through fan favorites alongside new material. Tracks like “Gangsta”, “Water Fountain”, and “Bizness” sparked full-throated singalongs. Garbus thoughtfully inquired how one fan (placed front row center stage), seemed to know all the lyrics to a song that hadn’t yet been released. They proudly proclaimed they received the new record in the mail a day early and already knew all the lyrics. They weren’t lying– they kept singing along to every word for the rest of the night.

Newer songs like “How Big is The Rainbow” and show opener “Heartbreak” showcased the album’s expansive, playful depth. “Sanctuary” felt especially intimate as Garbus beaconed the crowd to sing along to the meditative chorus, “You are not the weight you carry, Clip the strings and float away, Live inside a sanctuary, Lose yourself to find your way”. The mantra landed like a shared prayer amongst attendees who have found great solace in Tune-Yard's lyrics since the band’s inception in 2009. Garbus saw this song as a thank you letter to fans, and initially wanted to throw the lyrics into the crowd in the form of tiny slips of origami paper. The kind thought was an emblem of the night’s intimate, grateful tone.

Tune-Yards has always made music that resists categorization. The live experience is a primal detachment from your average concert. You don’t watch a Tune-Yards show– you are part of one. Surrounded by sweaty strangers and friends alike–genuine smiles abound. Tune-Yards create vibrancy in community and a space to feel seen, heard and loved.

Make sure to catch Tune-Yards on their tour as it continues throughout the U.S. this summer. Don’t forget to check out Better Dreaming, their first album in 4 years, found on all major streaming platforms.

Review & Photos by: Jay Bartell

Like what you read? Follow our social media and playlist for the latest in independent music:

Tune-Yards Offer Blissful Harmonic Detachment and Community in NYC