Ibeyi play a surprise acoustic set at Rough Trade NYC

Ibeyi is one of the new bands I’m the most excited about this year, so it was a no-brainer to rush to Rough Trade NYC last Friday to see them live once more. They played an acoustic set in the store itself, not in the back room venue, which was booked otherwise that evening.

“Acoustic” means for Ibeyi to drop a synth and the MPC from their set – both are important instruments for what makes their recorded music so special, but live you would not miss them so much. You are transfixed anyway just by watching these two young women singing about loss, love and spirituality.

The set was brief: aside from their best knows songs Ghosts and Mama Says, they only played Stranger/Lover and their Jay Electronica cover of Better in Tune with the Infinite. The show was crowned by an acapella version of River, with the audience contributing the “Wash my Soul” line of the chorus.

It was our third time to see Ibeyi, but we have yet to see a full show – that will change with their Webster Hall show on October 2nd. More tour dates below.