Culture Editor Ruby Kwartz reviews Infinity Song’s show at Mama Roux’s
On 14th November, I had the great opportunity to see Infinity Song at Mama Roux’s in Birmingham as part of their UK and Europe tour. Infinity Song, a soft rock band comprising four siblings – Abraham, Momo, Angel and Israel – are based in New York. They have had a meteoric rise over the past year, mainly due to their incredible social media presence and their songs ‘Hater’s Anthem’ and ‘Sinking Boat’ reaching viral status.
On entering the venue, it was clear that their reach was not limited to Instagram, as the sold-out venue was full of excited audience members from various ages, genders and backgrounds – a fitting testament to Infinity Song’s broad appeal.
The crowd was first treated to a warmup act from Tia Gordon. Tia was lovably chatty, confiding in the audience that this was her first performance outside of London and joking with her pianist, the only musical accompaniment she had on stage. Between her fun asides, she sang deeply moving ballads and lullabies, with a mixture of tracks from her own EP and covers of popular songs. Tia’s singing was smooth and soulful, and she expertly got the crowd in a friendly and excited mood, ready to welcome the main act.
Infinity Song entered the stage to loud and enthusiastic cheers, kicking off the show with an extended version of their song ‘Lotus’. It was immediately clear that the show would be a high-energy and musically spectacular event. Each member brought a unique energy, full of dancing and movement, and their musical riffs on both voice and guitar kept the audience enthusiastic.
As they progressed through songs from their debut album ‘Metamorphosis Complete’, they kept the energy high with polished choreographed movements and slick musical transitions. These kept the performance value high despite their limited space on stage, which they shared with a backing band comprising a piano, drum kit and bass.
The band’s ability to motivate the audience was incredible. They constantly made jokes, interacted with people in the crowd and encouraged lots of audience participation. Israel stood out as an accomplished performer, frequently jumping on the railings, running through the crowd and shocking the audience with his ability to play electric guitar behind his head. He was clearly living his rock star fantasy, and the audience loved it.
Despite this venue being smaller than other cities they visited during their international tour, they used the intimate setting to their advantage by creating a communal feeling among the audience. They also fostered this positive group environment through their love of dance, initiating a dance-off between themselves and giving us a taste of their friendly sibling rivalry before inviting audience members onstage to display their moves. This section potentially went on for a bit too long, but the audience remained supportive and energetic, cheering everyone on and participating with enthusiasm.
Whilst Infinity Song’s showmanship was second to none, they also exceeded expectations with their musical quality. The rich and complex harmonies which contributed to their internet success were even more impressive live and allowed each member to showcase their talent, from Abraham’s strong base notes to Angel’s seemingly effortless high whistle tones. Momo and Israel maintained incredible vocals and skilled guitar playing throughout the show. They all interacted with the band and each other with a smile.
I really enjoyed how they extended most of their songs to explore the different musical pathways each song promised. The various instrumental interludes and variations to the song structure kept the performance fresh and delivered a unique quality compared to their studio album.
Despite their internet virality, Infinity Song is definitely a band best enjoyed live. Their electric energy clearly shows that they are passionate about their music, and their enjoyment rubs off on the audience to create a truly entertaining night. With their exquisite musical talent and spirited performance, I certainly left the concert a bigger fan of Infinity Song than I was when I arrived, and I would encourage anyone to experience this live show if they have the chance.
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