Review: Bartees Strange @ Brighton Music Hall 4/23

Photo credits: Bao Ngo

Review by Kyra Matteo

Bartees Strange kicked off the first night of tour for his newest album “Horror” on Wednesday night at Brighton Music Hall. Best known for his gender-bending sound that takes inspiration from rock, hip-hop, and even pop, Strange delivered exactly that, pouring powerful vocals over threshing guitar and rhythmic drum beats for a small, but enthusiastic audience.

Strange is humble and down-to-earth. On the evening of the show, I unexpectedly ran into him on the streets of Allston. I nervously managed a “hello,” and instead of just returning the greeting, he reached out for a handshake and asked me my name.

Growing up with a military father, Strange spent much of his early life moving across Europe before settling down in Mustang, Oklahoma, at the age of 12. His time living in the south inspired his 2020 hit “Mustang” from “Live Forever,” which closed out the night’s set. The song grapples with growing up as one of the few black kids in a predominantly white town, and the toll it takes on one’s sense of identity. In one of the song’s most poignant lines, Strange reflects, “Waking up is hard, but see / That if I didn’t move the way I did then tell me / How else could I be?” His lyrics capture his inner conflict – the pressure to conform to his environment while trying to preserve his individuality.

On his latest album “Horror,” Strange continues his introspective journey. The title “Horror” refers not to blood and gore, but to the emotional content he explores within his lyrics. Strange confronts his deepest fears and personal demons head-on, reflecting on the memories that have shaped him into the person he is today. Whether it’s career instability, romantic turmoil, or the hardships that come with being black and queer in America, Strange tackles each topic with honesty and vulnerability. Sonically, “Horror” seamlessly blends driving rock songs with soft, acoustic tracks (and at times, accomplishes both within the same track). 

On stage, Strange is a natural-born rocker. His physicality reflects his commitment to the sound, complete with thrashing and headbanging despite limited stage space. His band matched his energy, with a bass player whipping his long hair in sync with the high-energy songs. During songs like “Need Wants,” a track that describes the essential role fans play in sustaining independent artists, Strange’s voice sounded intense and powerful. He effortlessly played distorted guitar riffs while pushing his vocal range to its full potential.

Yet, during his louder moments, the intensity of crashing drums sometimes drowned out his vocal performance. Instead, the highlights of the night came from the softer moments, when it was just Strange and his acoustic guitar. On “Baltimore,” he reflects on the search for a place to call home, naming cities and imagining alternate lives. “LA’s got everythin’, except for people like mine / Thinkin’ bout the lives I don’t have,” he sang in a beautifully low register.

“Horror” was created with the help of renowned music producer Jack Antonoff, known for his work with pop powerhouses like Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, and Lorde. However, Antonoff’s influence doesn’t feel too pronounced. Strange’s sound is more confident and polished than previous albums, but his music still feels uniquely its own, largely undisturbed by outside influences.

On “17,” Strange dives deep into his childhood, recounting the first moments he’s felt isolated as a person of color and the pressure to suppress his identity to fit in. “The first time that I felt impending doom/ was realizin’ I’m too black for the room / I was pushin’ it down pushin’ it down just for you,” Strange sang to the attentive crowd. 

Between songs, Strange spoke casually with the audience. He even offered praise for Boston, aside from one racist encounter. Drawing laughter from the crowd, Strange joked that if someone’s over 70, he lets their racism slide because, “they’re on their way out.”

The audience, clearly well-acquainted with Strange, moved in sync with the music. “We missed you!” a fan towards the back of the room called when he mentioned it had been a few years since his last Boston show. Judging by the crowd’s enthusiasm, it’s safe to say Boston is hoping he won’t stay away so long next time.