MALLRAT / ANNA SHOEMAKER – LIVE AT THE SPACE BALLROOM
By Ralph Beauchamp
A Monday night in Hamden isn’t usually a happening date on the calendar but May 12th changed that scenario. Australian up and coming superstar, Mallrat, brought her North American headlining tour to the iconic Space Ballroom. For support, Mallrat enlisted the talented and effervescent Anna Shoemaker.
The Space Ballroom was the perfect setting to showcase Mallrat‘s dream-pop enlightenments. The venue is small but big enough to give an artist a decent and receptive crowd. Also, the lighting was perfectly attuned to Mallrat‘s unique blend of music. On this evening, even though not sold out, there was a hefty amount of people in attendance and I could see that they were avid Mallrat fans. Both young and old, the audience couldn’t wait to hear and witness Mallrat‘s brazen enchantments.
Opening act, Anna Shoemaker is a lofty artist that can fall into several different genres including folk and indie pop. Originally from Philly, she now calls LA her home. Her stage setup was very intimate. She on one stool with a guitar and her boyfriend strumming on another. She has just released a daring new full length entitled Someone Should Stop Her. Most of the songs from her set came from the new album and she disclosed right from the start that this was a break-up record.
Shoemaker very quickly built up a solid dialogue with the audience. It felt as if she was playing a house gig for family and friends. Everyone was feeling her warm embrace. Her lovely voice cascaded throughout the room. Songs like “Game of Thrones”, “Horse Girl” and “Real Life” totally enchanted the audience. Her lyrics were poignant and full of subtle imagery. Anna Shoemaker is a artist on the rise.
When Mallrat (Grace Kathleen Elizabeth Shaw) hit the stage, you felt the crowd’s energy rise. Mallrat was definitely the main attraction of the evening. She also has released a new album this year. Light hit my face like a straight right is her second full length. Her debut release was Butterfly Blue in 2022. Most of her set came from these two records.
Mallrat‘s sound is hard to categorize. She mashes electronica, hip hop and pop with a surprising ease. All of her songs have a divine lushness but still can hit with a cinematic punch. Mallrat opened her set with “My Darling, My Angel” which immediately drew in the audience. Bodies were swaying and a good portion of the crowd was singing along. Her stripped down band, consisting of a drummer and guitarist/keyboardist, filled the venue with righteous grooves.
Mallrat’s 17 song set had new selections and tried and true favorites. “Pavement”, “Surprise Me”, “Horses” and “Virtue” all carried weight but her hits really resonated with her adoring fans. Her huge single, “Groceries”, was well receives as well as “Charlie” and “Rockstar”. Mallrat’s cover of The Knocks “R U High” was another fan favorite. She closed out with “Hideaway/Love Songs”. As a testament to her strong appeal, she received a beautiful bouquet of flowers from one of her admirers.
The entire evening was filled with lavish and vibrant aural waterfalls. Both Anna Shoemaker and Mallrat permeated an air of sonic beauty.
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