“My dad says it’s not rock and roll if I make people do breathing exercises” singer-songwriter Angie McMahon jokes midway through her set at New York’s iconic Bowery Ballroom.

While it might not sound very rock and roll on paper, the deliberate consciousness that McMahon brings to her set is certainly radical. Opening the show, she asks fans to join together to take a deep breath before she plays a note. McMahon creates an open and welcome environment, a clear rebellion against the strongly male-oriented, gatekeeping spaces many rock fans are used to.

McMahon and band continue the night, taking fans through songs like “Slow Mover,” “Killing Time,” and “Missing Me.” An eclectic performance, the concert included the crowd repeating the echoing “fish, fish, fish, fish, fish” chorus of the aptly named “Fish,” an audience participant bird call session to kick off “If You Call,” and an on-stage dinosaur mascot proudly named Steven.

McMahon’s brand of quirky, relatable rock might not feel like the guitar smashing rock and roll of yesteryear, seeing it live feels equally groundbreaking. In a music scene so driven by isolated, online fandom, McMahon builds a quiet cocoon in the halls of Bowery Ballroom. The show feels like a welcoming hand extended out, inviting fans in from out of the cold to join the community Angie and band have created.

Article and Photo Gallery by Niamh Murphy