Charly Bliss live at the 9:30 Club review: All sunny pop and grungy punk

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As a seasoned gamer of live music events, I can confidently say that Charly Bliss’ performance at the 9:30 Club was nothing short of electrifying. Having attended countless shows over the years, I can attest to the fact that few bands have managed to capture my heart and spirit quite like this Brooklyn-based quartet did.

Right from the start when Charly Bliss lead singer Eva Hendricks burst onto the stage at Washington DC’s 9:30 Club, the audience was primed for excitement. For the following 75 minutes, Hendricks and her band members kept their promise, delivering an electrifying performance. The Brooklyn-based group is currently touring in support of their third and most outstanding album titled Forever. This show marked the beginning of a 22-date tour that will take them across America from coast to coast over the next month.

Hendricks made a striking entrance during the performance, donning a full white outfit with a fluffy tutu and thigh-high stockings to match. Throughout the show, she acted as an animated cheerleader, jumping, striding energetically, and even falling to the ground at one point in an attempt to maintain maximum excitement. Underneath all the drama, she displayed powerful vocals, performing many impressive new songs that beautifully merge sunshine pop and grungy punk styles, creating a captivating mix.

Kicking off with a poignant tune titled “Tragic”, Charly Bliss showcased ten tracks from their latest album, Forever, during the performance. Although they’ve played about half of these songs on tour last year prior to its release, “Tragic” was a fresh addition. Additionally, “I Don’t Know Anything,” “How Do You Do It,” and “First Last Kiss” were performed live for the first time in this set, with “How Do You Do It” being particularly noteworthy as it started as a sad breakup song but morphed into an uplifting anthem about moving on.

Charly Bliss wonderfully delivers sunshine pop and grungy punk

Apart from that memorable instance, there were more delightful moments to share. Hendricks shared with the audience that among all venues, the 9:30 was her most cherished in the world. She reminisced about performing there a decade ago as an opener for Veruca Salt, and now marveled at the fact they were headlining this renowned DC location.

The happiness spilled over as they leaped around energetically during “Capacity,” a track from their second album, Young Enough, which significantly expanded their fanbase in 2019. Or when she gleefully declared “I just found a tampon!” after “I’m Not Dead,” having picked up an item thrown on stage.

“Charly Bliss’ song ‘I’m Not Dead’ showcases their growth as a songwriting collective, as every song is credited to the entire band with occasional contributions from others.”

For five years following “Young Enough” and up to “Forever,” there was a challenging period for everyone, with numerous bands struggling and ultimately disbanding. Yet, Charly Bliss not only survived but thrived, leading to the creation of their new song “Waiting for You.” This song, according to Hendricks, is a heartfelt tribute to her bandmates.

The upcoming album could have a more mellifluous tone compared to their initial releases that leaned towards punk. This is noticeable when they revisited their roots with the aggressive “Percolator,” the opening track of their debut, or with the driving rhythm of “Young Enough.” However, the new tracks can still deliver a strong beat, as exemplified by the anticipated hit from the new album, the powerful and anthemic “Calling You Out.”

However, “Forever” surpasses their previous range achievements. Prior to performing the heartfelt ballad “Nineteen,” Hendricks confessed that upon composing it, she questioned, “What on earth will we do to surpass this?”

In the heart of the performance, Charly Bliss stands out significantly beyond just being Hendricks. Guitarist Spencer Fox skillfully crafts a captivating sonic landscape that transitions smoothly from the tender melodies of “In Your Bed” to the vibrant pop-rock tunes like “Hard to Believe.” Bassist Dan Shure and Sam Hendricks, Eva’s brother on drums, keep the tempo lively and engaging. They even jump in with playful banter when Eva struggles to keep her guitar in tune, an issue that surfaced multiple times during Thursday’s set.

At the concert, Sam took on two roles, not only performing as the main act but also playing drums for the opening act, Raffaella – a Minnesota-based singer/songwriter who has just released her second twin debut EP titled “Live, Raff, Love (Acts I & II)“. Raffaella added a charming dose of sarcasm to her collection of intelligent pop songs. She introduced the seemingly sweet pop tune “Man of My Dreams” as merely “a bunch of lies repeated over and over again.”

While discussing merchandise, she referred to herself as “a music-playing company that sells t-shirts.”

During their performance, Charly Bliss performed only one cover song. For their grand finale, they energized the crowd with a dynamic rendition of Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone.” Eva Hendricks encouraged the audience to join in, and they were more than willing to oblige.

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2024-09-06 18:00