Flint Eastwood @ Rough Trade NYC
It was the perfect fall night out in Brooklyn. It was brisk, and the air was refreshing. The venue, Rough Trade, is a hip record joint with a decent sized venue in the back. Local pop artist Car Astor was the first to take the stage. She is soft-spoken and has a gentle smile but with a contrasting hard exterior who can belt forcefully and flawlessly. It was just her and her guitar reminiscing on playful times, confrontation and heartbreak.
Following Car’s performance was budding electro-pop Detroit producer Nydge. Born Nigel Van Hemmye, Nydge gets on stage sporting a race car drivers’ jumpsuit, ironically enough as he was named after the Formula 1 driver, Nigel Mansell. His sound is spacey and melodic. The room was still, and all eyes were on him as he danced outlandishly but whimsically to the beat of his own music. He was enchanting and chic, and before we knew it, we were all in tune with him.
Though Nydge is fascinating and groovy, there is no such thing as stealing the show from someone like Flint Eastwood. If you are that one weirdo in the crowd who isn’t completely invested, you’d better prepare to be called out. She demands your attention and energy… and for a good reason. Jax Anderson, the woman behind Flint Eastwood, hails from Detroit and makes her music in a legitimate sanctuary, an abandoned church turned into a recording studio, Assemble Sound. Nydge is also part of the Assemble family.
I was so entranced by her pulsating rhythmic beats that I completely drew a blank on her setlist. I must’ve looked like a lunatic dancing, if you can even it call it that, with my camera and bookbag. Her setlist was a mix of veteran jams from Small Victories, Broke Royalty and ditties from her latest record, This is a Coping Mechanism for a Broken Heart.
The crowd playfully sung along to old-time hits from Small Victories like “Glitches” and “God Only Knows” as well as collaborations like “Rewind” featuring GRiZ and “Push” featuring Tunde Olaniran. Introducing the album and its influences, she spoke of going through the trials and tribulations of her relationship. It was her first real love, so she wrote about its demise. This album was her way of recovering and filling the void from one thing you love with another. It is about making mistakes, fueling the fires in your life, and essentially moving on.
Low key, I have been to more FE shows than I can count, and I still remember the first time I saw her. It was at the release party for Small Victories, and it was in this amazing Detroit warehouse. I swear, I had never danced like that ever before. It was one of the most liberating feelings in my life. My friends and I still relate every single party or show we attended back to that one night, almost exactly three years ago. We were ravenous on the dance floor, and it was magic. I was a believer.
Fast forward, over time I’ve watched her grow and become this persona who exudes inspiration to those who are listening, from the Carmen San Diego-esque hats and bolo ties to Carhartt overalls. If you aren’t paying attention, she will find you. It’s as if she can see who in the audience is hiding, who is afraid of being vulnerable. She will call you out, lift you up, and let your soul free.
As I looked around the crowd, they were all sold. These were their stories. Jax was just the one reading the script.
