TROY, NY – On quick glance, one might think the audience assembled here on 7/28/24 at No Fun for singer-songwriter Katy Kirby was indeed not having much fun, as it was possibly the quietest, most well-behaved crowd the club has hosted. Fortunately, on this night, it was just because attendees (including this writer) were absolutely charmed by the promising young “semi” Troy-based talent, who captivated all in the room, from start to finish.
Born in Texas and formerly based in Nashville, Kirby now resides in Brooklyn. However, she refers to Troy as her “micro-hometown,” stating, “I sometimes live here” and endearingly calling the crowd her “micro-homies.” Kirby had an effortless connection with the audience and an ease on stage that truly made it feel like a hometown show. So, move over Brooklyn; she’s ours now!
But before Kirby graced the stage, Keta Ester—local indie musician and member of Albany-based Bruiser and Bicycle—kicked off the evening with a short, but memorable set. The performance was simple, yet so much fun, and their semi-awkward stage presence made them all the more endearing. Ester had the quintessential indie sound: interesting but not too interesting, with simple pieces coming together to make a colorful and captivating performance. The set was the perfect tone setter for the rest of the show.
Mei Semones followed; she and her band have joined Kirby for a leg of her North American tour. An exceptional guitarist with an inimitable, genre-bending sound, Semones is almost impossible to wholly characterize.
I asked Semones after the show how she’d classify her music, and she described it as “Jazz-influenced indie J-Pop.” The elements of bossa nova, the fluctuation between English and Japanese lyrics, and the transcendent strings section, made for one of the most unique and impressive sets I have ever heard.
Finally, Katy Kirby took the stage, opening with “Redemption Arc,” off her latest album, Blue Raspberry. The song felt simple and stripped down, yet with delivery and messaging that was incredibly powerful; a perfect tone setter for the rest of the set.
In all, Kirby played nearly the entirety of the Blue Raspberry album, as well as a few crowd favorites from her first album, Cool Dry Place. She certainly charmed the crowd throughout, with witty banter between songs that was effortlessly funny and created an even closer connection with the audience. The crowd was hanging on her every word; both her light-hearted repartee and her soul-bearing, narrative-driven lyrics.
Signed to ANTI- Records in 2023, Kirby released her second studio album, Blue Raspberry, in early 2024, capturing a classic indie sound that reflects her growth and emotional journey since her 2021 debut. When I asked Kirby after the show what felt different about this new album, she agreed that it felt like Blue Raspberry was a more authentic depiction of herself and the time in her life as she was “going through it.” The album also delves still deeper, reflecting on her evangelical upbringing, and exploring for the first time—lyrically at least—her experiences as an openly queer individual.
The storytelling comes across raw and very real; each word Kirby sings is deliberate and intentional. Her lyrical choices don’t always feel comfortable, they poke at you and beg you to confront and reconcile her story. The translation of this vulnerable songwriting to her live performance at No Fun was seamless.
Kirby’s live performance in Troy presented each song from Blue Raspberry in a beautiful, unique way, making you feel like you’re hearing this incredible album for the first time all over again. For example, the title track never fully caught my ear on the recorded LP, yet when performed live, the tight, quiet harmonies and air of subtle melodrama made this song stand out amid this stellar performance.
She ended the evening with “Portals,” a heart-wrenching ballad off Cool Dry Place. Although I’d been hoping for at least one more up-tempo tune to round out the set, this strikingly beautiful composition left the crowd unpacking and deciphering the song, hours later. In just three minutes, Kirby had us pondering the involuntary reinventions of ourselves, the infinite number of realities (or should I say portals) we exist in, and the comfort that comes from accepting the lack of supreme control we actually possess. It was a profound moment.
If Katy Kirby ’s latest album and exceptional performance at No Fun are any indication of what’s in store for this young artist, I think it’s safe to say there’s plenty more on the way. And I know the 518 will be excited to welcome back our quasi-hometown “homie,” when she undoubtedly graces an even bigger stage upon her return.
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Katy Kirby – 7/28/24 at No Fun, Troy, NY (Photos by Catherine Windover)
Mei Semones – 7/28/24 at No Fun, Troy, NY (Photos by Catherine Windover)
Keta Ester – 7/28/24 at No Fun, Troy, NY (Photos by Catherine Windover)
