Concert Recap: Billy Tibbals
Words by Alyssa Macaluso
New York City is full of small halls, digs where up-and-coming — and even some established — artists take hold of the black box and transform it into a completely different space for a few hours. When Billy Tibbals took to the Racket stage in Chelsea on Saturday, Feb. 4, the crowd was transported back to an era of ’70s rock ’n roll, full of angst, strong bass guitar, and jaunty keyboard playing.
Billy Tibbals and his band — Darby O’Mahony (bass guitar), Tristan Dean (rhythm guitar and backup vocals), and Reza Matin (drums and backup vocals) — had the intimidating job of opening for Mac Saturn, a Detroit-based group influenced by Motown, glam rock and bluesy sounds that exude confidence in their onstage persona. Anticipation about Billy's opening set was far from absent; as I checked my coat in the upstairs lobby, two young women in color-coordinated outfits in line behind me chatted excitedly about seeing Billy perform, as if he were already a household name. His reputation was further affirmed when he stepped out just after 8 p.m. to an enthusiastic chorus of “Billy!”
He kicked off his show with one of his first releases, “Lucy,” followed by “Onwards and Upwards,” another early release. The crowd, although energetic early on, became more subdued as he moved into songs from his EP “Stay Teenage,” which will be released in April of 2023. Part of this can be attributed to the audience’s lack of knowledge of the subject material, but Billy’s stiffness and scant chemistry with his band and the audience didn’t help. That kind of chemistry comes with time and practice, however, and was but a minor detriment to the performance as a whole.
What the band lacked in chemistry, they made up for in vocal talent. Billy’s voice cannot be described as anything less than masterful, and he navigates his jaunty melodies with passion and precision. If you close your eyes while listening to his music, you can picture him swooning behind the microphone as he spins a tale of lovesick woe. When Billy’s on-stage energy matches the mental image evoked by his music, I think it will be a truly special show.
Billy cleverly placed “Hollywood Baby,” his most recent single and my personal favorite song from his discography, in the middle of the setlist, bringing the crowd’s energy back up with a song they could participate more in. Six songs followed, all from his upcoming EP, and the band ended with a song (“While I’m Still Young”) that left audience members’ ears ringing with the power and drama contained in Billy’s voice and set the stage for a whimsical performance by Mac Saturn.
Billy effortlessly conjures great rockers of the past. He wears cigarette smoke like perfume, a blazer-cut leather jacket like he was born in it, shaggy dark curls like he was a victim of the mullets of the ’70s. Although he’s cast for the part, he has yet to make it his own. His songs, although delightfully quirky and “eccentric,” sound like an amalgamation of the top glam rock hits.
He will grow into his sound and his swagger, hopefully taking clues from the distinctive energy of bands like Mac Saturn. I’m excited to see where he goes and how he evolves. / I’m excited to see him grow into the shoes of the greats he’s often compared to.
Make sure to listen to Billy’s music here, and follow along to see what he has in the works!