Photos and Writing by Kyle Ostrander

Hardcore band SPY and shoegaze group Glare recently hit the road together for a string of shows across the US. The two acts wrapped up their run of shows in NYC at Brooklyn Steel on Tuesday night, with both serving up impressive, memorable sets.

First to take the stage was SPY. Just like on their records, SPY’s music hit hard and fast, delivering a forceful blast of noise and energy. “NYC! Who’s ready to get things going?!” said vocalist Peter Pawlak after the first song. The crowd immediately began moshing and jumping around to the music. The band themselves also never stood still during their 30 minute set. No matter where you looked, someone on stage was throwing their instrument, sprinting across the stage, or kicking their legs in the air. The songs were short and sweet while still packing powerful dynamics and impressive range, which kept the strong momentum flowing. The band only took a short breather to thank their tour mates, their fans, and the venue, before diving right back into the action. “We absolutely love being on this tour. This next one’s for all the circle pit kids! Let’s spin that pit!” exclaimed Pawlak towards the end of their set. SPY are set to head over to the UK and Europe starting mid-June for a string of shows and festival appearances, along with a west coast US festival date in the fall. You can view the full list of upcoming dates here.

Up next was Glare, who elicited elated cheers from the crowd well before their set even began. “They’re in NYC! This is amazing. I need them to start!” said a fan in the front row. As soon as the band struck their first chord, dreamy, distorted sound quickly canvassed the venue in a sea of hypnotic haze. Floating rhythm guitar with contrasting lead riffs sat on top of deep bass and driving drums. Lights saturated the stage in hues of red, blue, and purple, emulating the kaleidoscope of sounds we were all experiencing. The audience bobbed their heads and excitedly swayed to the rhythm, losing themselves in the music. The approximately 40 minute set featured cuts from across Glare’s catalog, including their latest release, Sunset Funeral. Equally impressive as their refined musicianship and live executions of their songs was the sharing of vocal responsibilities between band members. Each of the musicians took vocals on a few tracks, adding another layer of dynamic, as they all jammed out to the swelling sounds. “Thanks again everyone for coming out, and to our tour mates for making these shows so amazing. Let’s keep this going!” said the band during their set. Glare has a handful of festival dates already announced for this fall in the UK and US. You can find more details here.