On a pleasantly mild November evening in Brooklyn, we headed to Main Drag Music—a music store with a venue that feels like a loft straight out of Blade Runner, with its raw, industrial, factory-like vibe. Three Brooklyn bands lit up the night, and the venue was packed with an electric crowd, bringing a Friday night full of chaotic energy.
TROPHY WIFE
Trophy Wife is the band I’ve listened to the most out of the three. I’ve been playing ‘Get Ugly’ on repeat since the band released it early last month, and it’s great to know that they’re now based in Brooklyn. Fronted by McKenzie Iazzetta, the band is known for transitioning from delicate vocal threads to raw vocals and grungy guitar riffs that define their unique sound. They’re all about distortion, fuzz, and melodies that linger long after the song ends. Interestingly, the beginnings of this project were more acoustic, which might explain why McKenzie’s emotive delivery and the band’s ability to blend noise with beautiful, atmospheric moments make them a must-listen for anyone who appreciates the beauty of messy, delicate distorted indie rock.
Highlight of the set: McKenzie finishing a song, sprawled on the stage floor, tangled in cables.
Favorite Song: “The Shame”
RIYL: The storm before the calm of heartbreak, finding beauty in the mundane, riding the subway while watching strangers through the window, collecting ’90s band cassettes, pretending your life is a movie.
Mary Shelley
Mary Shelley was the English novelist who wrote the Gothic classic Frankenstein, and it’s easy to see how that ties into the band’s name. Just like Frankenstein, the band creates their own unique monster, blending punk with music you can actually dance to. Known for their genre-defying sound, they mix post-punk rhythms with danceable disco beats, shoegaze textures, hip-hop grooves, and at times, even chant-like shouted mantras. Drawing from a wide range of influences across different eras and styles, Mary Shelley thrives on following their creative instincts, ensuring every track is a fresh and unpredictable experience.
Highlight of the set: When the vocalist and band dove into the mosh pit, joining the chaos with their own dance moves.
Favorite Song: “Piggies”
RIYL: Thrifting on Wilson Ave like it’s your weekly pilgrimage, living for the chaos of last-minute road trips to nowhere, outsmarting capitalism, picking fights at family dinners just for the drama, debating whether Rock n’ Roll can ever truly die.
Russian Baths
Russian Baths is a Brooklyn band carrying the torch of legends like Television, Sonic Youth, and Blonde Redhead. They dropped their new album Mirror this June, and it’s a captivating mix of cryptic, melodic post-punk with haunting noise and eerie soundscapes. With influences ranging from the raw energy of ‘80s New York to the angular intensity of DC hardcore and the immersive vibes of shoegaze, their live set took me right back to the dark, atmospheric sounds of Manchester in ’78. It’s a journey you don’t want to miss.
Highlight of the set: The sonic textures created by the band.
Favorite Song: “Split”
RIYL: Wandering Brooklyn streets after 2am, taking blurry photos of city skylines, talking about how Kevin Shields played all the instruments on Loveless, watching neon signs flicker in the rain.