At the beginning of the month, SZA expressed to GQ that modern music is suffering due to the youth’s lack of yearning resulting in fearful, inauthentic art and consequently, nothing new to celebrate. However, People I’ve Met counters this idea entirely. More specifically, Moses Martin’s lyricism is a home for weighted emotion and the processing of such feelings.
“Dancer”, People I’ve Met’s former moniker, sporadically decorates the sidewalks of Manhattan to this day. The red spray painted stencils (for me) serve as constant reminders of missing the trio open for New York based rock band (and dear friends) Telescreens. People I’ve Met’s music is unavailable to listen to beyond clips of prior shows. I’ve had nothing to form an opinion around the elusive band beyond word of mouth that they were impressive at Irving Plaza this past March. On October 23rd at Berlin Underground and November 8th at Baby’s All Right, I was finally able to see them.
The skillful photographer Tori McGraw and I secured standing room immediately in front of the stage for the show at Berlin Underground. We stood amidst a sea of NYU students, presumably peers – each member of the band is only 19. Proud parents, including Gwyneth Paltrow, and relatives also speckled the crowd. Following a stellar solo performance by Molly Sierra, Moses Martin (lead vocals, guitar), Orlando Wilshire (drums), and Andrew Suster (bass) took to the small stage in preppy but relaxed attire. Moses and Andrew were both in sporty jackets zipped to their necks, a style reminiscent of Liam Gallagher’s.
People I’ve Met began their set and they garnered attention immediately. Orlando was impossible to ignore. His drumming does not ground a song but rather shapes it. The drums were distinctly and enjoyably prominent the entire performance. Andrew’s bass hooks formed a perfect courtship with Orlando’s talent. All paired equally well with Moses’ washed out, smooth vocals. Listening to his voice is comparable to fumbling with soft sea glass in your palm – comforting. He sings of relationships, longing, patience, lack there of, a grounded sense of what life is, and wanting more.
The band sounds like a mix of iconic alternative acts: touches of Phoenix, The 1975 (I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It Era), Keane, Kings of Leon (Only By The Night Era), and a tiny hint of Frank Ocean. I would not be surprised if the boys were fans of Chanel Orange. I noted all of these sounds the first night I witnessed People I’ve Met live. Watching them perform a second time at Baby’s All Right, I couldn’t help but draw similarities to Coldplay’s beautiful Parachutes.
Despite SZA’s general dismissal of new young projects, I believe People I’ve Met offers more than most. Despite no recordings out, the band has played a handful of renowned New York venues and have collected thousands of followers on social media. People I’ve Met finish their Baby’s All Right residency this Saturday November 22. They’ll be performing with The Baxbys. There will also be a DJ set from the incredible local band The Thing. The show is free with RSVP. Go!
