Perhaps being born in Hawaii and Iowa to parents with Syrian and Native American lineage and then living in New York and Paris as well as a slew of other cities can explain in part CocoRosie’s ability to create music so artistically ambitious and diverse. The band’s show at The Belmont on Saturday night was packed, yet still an inexcusable dearth of discussion in the media preceded and followed the performance, as it was the most visually stunning and rich set I’ve seen this year. Sisters Sierra and Bianca Casady blend hip-hop, electronica, folk, and pop with their own personal peculiarities to create avant-garde music that simply defies labels.
Not only lyrically but also in their costuming, the sisters create art that encourages gender bending and alternative understandings of self-identity. Within the crowd, painted nails, heavy make-up, and glittering apparel abounded as fans anxiously awaited the group’s arrival onstage. I’ve rarely seen a crowd so amped for a band to appear; one concertgoer next to me waited, smartphone in the air, for almost half an hour just to catch video of the band’s entrance. When CocoRosie emerged, their attire ranged from flowing silk and gently sheer garments to overalls and sweatpants.
Costumes shifted frequently; oversize shirts were pulled on or garments were removed to reveal a different outfit, and masks sometimes adorned the sisters’ faces. A distinct wardrobe change midway through the set resulted in Sierra donned in a black ballet dress. All of this fashion performance art took place in front of an elaborately detailed stage setting that included an antique vanity, at which the sisters would sit to gaze into the mirror or apply make-up during and between songs. On one occasion, Sierra sat, leaned back and exposed her teeth while Bianca used black nail polish to paint a gap into Sierra’s wide smile. Implicit in CocoRosie’s odd pop is an embracing of oneself. Where others might see flaws, these sisters seem to see only different versions of beauty.
A significant feature of CocoRosie’s live set centers on Tez, the human beatbox, who stood near the back of the stage and laid down mouth-made beats that provide some of the primary structures on songs. Tez, wearing makeup depicting a stream of black tears beneath each eye, took center stage during the wardrobe change, showcasing his incredible abilities, which included integrating a sample of Ginuwine’s “Pony.” The set for the night treated fans to songs from across the band’s catalogue, but leaned on newer material such as “After the Afterlife” from their newest effort, Tales of a GrassWidow.
This show, a masterfully rendered and surreal visual spectacle soundtracked by artistically powerful music, surpassed all expectations. Plainly put, this is a band you should see as soon as possible. As a fan of live music, I always like seeing artists perform in person, even when those performances offer little in the way of additional artistic expression. But CocoRosie provides a true performance of the highest caliber. As if this weren’t enough, CocoRosie’s freak-folk art sends a clear message to us all to find and embrace our true selves. Sierra and Bianca Casady are inspirational and rare artists deserving of the highest accolades.
All photos © Bryan Parker & Pop Press International. Click any image to open in slideshow viewer.
