In the aftermath of the biggest blizzard New York City has seen in years, the atmosphere outside the Brooklyn Steel on Thursday was quite bleak and bone-chilling. Walking to the venue, crossing silent and desolate streets covered with ice, it was hard to imagine a way in which energy could be created in these conditions. And yet, by the end of Peter McPoland’s set, the impossible had been achieved.
Stepping into the venue, I felt a shift instantly – an electric, buzzing excitement hovered above the crowd and hung in the air. While waiting for Peter’s opening act, Dug, to take the stage, I realized something. The way in which an artist’s fans talk about their openers is really a reflection of the artist themselves; if the artist has cultivated a community founded on shared experience and genuine appreciation for the music, their fans will award the same precious energy towards the opener, and become a sort of found fandom for them as well. As I stood in front of the barricade messing with my camera settings, I overheard two girls standing behind me, going: “Oh my god, I’m so excited. I can’t wait for Dug.” Though this is, of course, a testament to Dug’s incredible energy and talent – it also speaks to the way in which Peter fosters community with his fans. Interestingly enough, I have experienced this phenomenon from the other end as well. Back in 2022, I was one of those fans, waiting outside Bowery Ballroom for Peter’s biggest headlining show yet. Being in the crowd then and holding a camera at the barricade now, I could tell the energy hadn't changed at all. It’s the same genuine found-family feeling that Peter has been building since day one, and it clearly extends to anyone he brings on stage with him.
Peter took the stage with bandmates Josh Suarez, Landon Laney, and Joe Curtin, and they gathered around the microphone at centerstage to begin with an acoustic rendition of ‘Dead Air.’ A stillness fell over the room as their voices pulled together, creating a plaintively rustic, Appalachian folk sound that felt really raw. After ‘Dead Air,’ Peter donned a harmonica harness, skillfully cycling between harmonica, guitar, and vocals as he dove into two standouts from his newest album Big Lucky: ‘Good Day’ and ‘What Do You Do To Me?’
My favorite part of the evening came just as I exited the photo pit following the first 3 songs. Peter thanked the crowd for coming, and then told everyone that, though he was so proud to be playing the Brooklyn Steel, a hometown venue that he loves dearly, he actually wishes he was in their position instead. Recalling his last time at the Brooklyn Steel at a Pinegrove concert, he told the crowd:
“My favorite part of the Brooklyn Steel is that, the subway stop is a ways away. So after a show, everyone kind of files out and makes the journey together, talking about the show and stuff… I wish I was you guys right now. Enjoy it.”
Another testament to the community Peter builds with his fans. After that, he began ‘Slow Down,’ the title track of his debut EP and a personal favorite of mine. It starts off intimate and acoustic, and builds into this haunting yet high-energy chorus, but the live version is where the songs devolves into true catharsis. Once the bridge hits, the song just explodes into this beautiful, crashing mess of rock-n-roll, as the lights strobe and Peter pours his heart out through sweat and screams.
Throughout the set, Peter introduced each song with personal anecdotes and made the crowd feel truly at home. Before ‘Shit Show,’ he regaled us with stories of moving to New York at 18, and riding the 1 train every day while crashing on his uncle’s couch. When he hit the line, 'Lost my mind somewhere on the 1 line, and didn’t realize ‘til I cried on Thanksgiving,' the crowd roared it back tenfold. And then, as if his harmonica playing from earlier hadn’t tipped us off, Peter told the crowd of his admiration for Bob Dylan and played a cover of ‘Dink’s Song,’ a track he’s been playing since he was 17, grounding the high-energy set in his folk roots.
Though Peter is originally from Texas, the whole night felt like a true homecoming, for both him and the fans who have followed his journey. Peter is continuing on with the Big Lucky tour for the next several weeks, and it’s definitely a show worth catching. Check out the full gallery of photos HERE.