Concert Review: PVRIS with Born Cages at Webster Hall

Webster Hall marquee flaunting the sold out show. 

Emily Racanelli

Bands: Born Cages and PVRIS

Location: The Studio at Webster Hall in NY, NY

Date: Monday, June 1, 2015

PVTIENT FOR PVRIS

            Sitting outside of well-known NYC nightclub Webster Hall at 7:30 on a Monday morning, it begins to rain profusely. That accompanied with the bitter wind chill and several glances from people walking by who see me covering my backpack with an umbrella while sitting on a damp city sidewalk only seems to make me even more excited. It could be a hurricane and I guarantee that myself and other fans (identified as the “CVLT”) would still lineup hours in advance just to see 9 songs by the Boston trio that is taking the world by storm with their electronic infused alternative sound.

            When the dungeon doors open to let people into the tiny underground studio (the smallest of three rooms at Webster) fans lock legs to secure the few front row spots. Without a barricade, us not so poor unfortunate souls rest our arms on the stage while attempting to maintain our balance in the midst of those behind trying to get closer. Soon enough, 8 p.m. rolls around and the opening act takes the stage.

            Prior to this show, I was unfamiliar with NYC-based trio Born Cages. Therefore, it made me even more impressed when I was thoroughly entertained throughout the entire 30 minute set; not once did I glance at the time on my phone. The standout was lead singer and guitarist Vlad Holiday, whose frequent guitar solos paired nicely with the electronic keys playing in the background. (Combination of rock with the stuff you’d hear in a night club). Holiday fits the “misunderstood indie musician” profile perfectly, as he was adorned in tight jeans ripped at the knees and a mop of messy hair nearly covering his eyes. His stage presence was phenomenal, as he leaned over into the crowd while his fingers moved across the fretboard with ease. Definitely keep an eye on these guys, as they have a bright future ahead of them!

            After the crowd was hyped up by the pleasantly surprising Born Cages, it was time for the main event! Just as our clothes were drying off from the rain we were about to be soaked in sweat from an energetic set. PVRIS played 9 out of 10 songs from debut album White Noise, opening with “Smoke.” What stood out was the perfection of lead singer/guitarist Lynn Gunn’s vocals. You could play her live performance side by side with the recorded version and not be able to tell the difference. She goes from an aggressive tone with “You make your way into my veins/Course right through my limbs and dig your way into my brain” to a soothing lullaby-esque one in the acoustic version of “Eyelids.” Stripped down to just the vocals and support from guitarist Alex Babinski, it was an emotional few minutes that let Gunn’s lyrical capabilities shine through. The most memorable moment, however, came at the end of the song. As all true PVRIS fans know, the recorded track ends with a voicemail left by Gunn’s girlfriend, Alexa San Román, (vocalist/guitarist of Long Island band Love, Robot) of whom the song is written about. Standing next to me was 2/3 of the Massachusetts band FIRE | DRIVE, who screamed the entire message, rallying the crowd to help complete the song in it’s entirety.

            Aside from the love-stricken slow tunes, the 45 minute set was filled with upbeat electronic anthems as well, such as “Fire.” One of the best PVRIS songs to see live, it crescendos throughout the verse to a chorus and the signature dance that goes along with it. The song begins with just a simple electronic background, as Lynn softly sings, “Don’t blame your death, on the shit in your head/That you claim eats you like a virus for days on end.” It soon becomes a full-on power anthem as drums come in and the chorus finishes with the trio doing a synchronized one-two sidestep (the kind that is often found between awkward pre-teens at a middle school dance, but much cooler here) that the crowd mimics with what little leg space is available.

            Once the dancing dies down, the bass line picks up. Gunn introduces “Holy” as “a song about a**holes who don’t practice what they preach.” Bassist Brian MacDonald lays down a low riff while the electronic drums play that all-to recognizable backbeat as Gunn sings about poor unfortunate souls. While the subject of the song may have been a bad soul, I most definitely was anything but. In fact, that entire crowd was a group of lucky fortunate souls. With tickets selling out in mere minutes, we all managed to snag a spot to a show that will be remembered for years to come.

            Since their appearance on The World Tour this past winter with Pierce The Veil and Sleeping With Sirens, PVRIS has been climbing in popularity. It is only a matter of time until Gunn becomes even more of a female icon in the music industry and people learn how to pronounce the band name without hesitation. When these guys are selling out stadiums, the couple hundred people crammed in that sweaty club will always trace it back to the roots of the band they fell in love with before the world knew about them.

            Further emphasizing their talent and potential for total domination, PVRIS closed out the set with hit single “My House.” The crowd went so crazy during the breakdown that they started surfing over bodies and tumbling onto the extremely small stage that barely had enough room for the musicians themselves. The beautiful chaos ensued as Gunn screamed, “Haven’t you heard?/I’m not yours anymore/I’m not yours anymore/It’s my soul!” That craziness made the entire day worth it.

            I may have left the show with bruises on my thighs from being forced into the stage and back pain induced by fans who crossed the boundaries of personal space, but I got to be front and center to see the band that has given me a new outlook on life. Being in that moment where nothing else matters in the world is what makes the journey to get there appear to be trivial. Suddenly, sitting on sidewalks in pouring rain, spending twice as much on transportation than the actual ticket, and being covered in other people’s sweat seems like nothing. Not only did I get to be within arms length of my favorite band, but I made a bunch of new friends as well. If this show was any indication, PVRIS and the CVLT have a lengthy and successful road going forward and I can’t wait to be a part of it!

You can catch both Born Cages and PVRIS on the entire Vans Warped Tour this summer! Also, be sure to vote for PVRIS and watch them perform at the APMAs on July 22, airing on AXS TV.\

Gunn showing off her powerful vocals as she screams into the mic.

Gunn taking a break from her guitar while gazing into the crowd.