New York – Nashville outfit Bully, fronted by Alicia Bognanno alongside fellow bandmates and friends Stewart Copeland, Clayton Parker and Reece Lazarus, have quickly developed a reputation as one of the most talked-about bands of 2015 with their brand of brutally honest lyricism and punchy, guitar-laden songs that are sure to engage listeners with the thought that “I’ve felt that way too”. In promotion of their anticipated debut LP Feels Like, officially due out June 23rd via Columbia Records, Bully made a stop at Rough Trade to showcase their upcoming album before they embark on a set of North American tour dates supporting Best Coast.
Feels Like was recorded over a string of 23 days in famous Chicago studio Electrical Audio, where Bognanno herself was formally an intern; a fitting location due to its source as the place to initially witness the singer’s first stabs at recording the music that would eventually be shaped into Bully. Influenced by both the city of Chicago alongside Bognanno’s experience as a recording engineer at Nashville studio Battle Tapes, Bully’s technical capability is matched by their prowess at extracting deeply personal experience and singing about them unflinchingly.
The quartet’s set at Rough Trade exemplified the identifying character of many of Bully’s tracks; concise while packing a lingering punch. Fresh off of a gig at Northside Festival in Brooklyn two days prior, where they shared the bill with indie giants Built to Spill and UK notable act Alvvays, the band made the most of their time Monday evening as the center of attention at the all-ages set at Rough Trade. A full crowd turned up for the quietly publicized show, and judging from the rapidly accelerating pace of the band’s career (where they are already set to headline much larger venues in the autumn), it may well be one of the last intimate spaces they play. Having just posted the dates for their North American headlining tour, Bully’s live performance in Williamsburg made evident the reality that the band is ready to take on the pressure headfirst, exhibiting a confidence well beyond the youthful age of their band.
The direct, scratchy vocals of Bognanno combined with the band’s echoing alt-punk worked well in correlation to the often stark atmosphere of the record store doubling as a venue space. Bognanno’s impressive and diverse vocal range, which flexibly encompassed both passionate articulation and a snarl that defied her petite frame, offered up a sincere representation of the album, an LP which, the band has noted, was recorded intentionally to reflect the accessibility of the live performance. Bringing a forthright intensity to the stage during a set clocked at barely thirty minutes (about the same duration of Feels Like), the stirring and rebellious tracks promised to stay with audience members far longer.
Bognanno took time to thank the venue, which was also premiering copies of Feels Like before the official release date, and her nervously endearing banter with the audience was the only sign the band has yet to feel fully at home on stage, despite their mature and self-assured playing. However, there’s plenty of time for Bully to practice their on-stage charisma, as they embark on an extensive tour this summer that includes stops at Pitchfork Music Festival and Lollapalooza, before playing a widespread string of headline dates this upcoming autumn.
For more on Bully, visit their website.
Ruby Hoffman
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