Secondhand Setlists

As danceable as they are candid, Young Fathers tore up the Fonda and left us all the better for it.

The trio of Alloysious Massaquoi, Kayus Bankole, and Graham Hastings said little between songs, not that they ever needed to. Known for their forthright lyricisms, Young Fathers let their songs speak for themselves. Their staging also kept it minimal, using only a few simple lighting rigs and a projector screen to highlight their silhouettes. Simple but extremely effective, especially when the lighting would flash to red immediately at a song’s conclusion.

Song-wise, Young Fathers charged through songs off their latest album, Cocoa Sugar, along with cuts from Dead and White Men Are Black Men Too. Their current hit, “Toy”, emerged early on in their set, which conveyed confidence on their part; Young Fathers knew they could keep the crowd engaged even after playing the hit early on. Bankole, in particular, moved around the stage with a vivacious energy, hitting each pose as if knowing just how sick his figure looked to the audience.

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The crowd, to their credit, appeared to be more than just fairweather fans who discovered a new act. Packed inside upon the Fonda’s dancefloor, fans took over background vocals to “Rain or Shine” long after Massaquoi finished his own belting.

As a trio, Young Fathers bring together all the right pieces into one spectacular live show. Sometimes they spread out across the stage in different manners; at others they gathered together intimately at the same microphone, highlighting a familiarity that allows them to make such magic as a unit.

In conclusion, I cannot believe the Fonda was still selling tickets the day of this show – a Young Fathers concert, without question, should always sell out.