HIGHLY SUSPECT / FLIGHT ATTENDANT – LIVE AT TOAD’S PLACE
By Ralph Beauchamp
On Friday, Dec. 5th, Highly Suspect brought their “Mister Anniversary” tour to Toad’s Place in New Haven celebrating the release of their first studio album Mister Asylum in 2015. For direct support, Highly Suspect tagged Nashville’s Flight Attendant.
Flight Attendant is an energized five piece based out of Nashville. The band is comprised of founding members Karalyne Winegarner (Vocals/Keys), Vinny Maniscalco (Guitar) and Derek Sprague (Drums) The remaining musicians are Nikki Christie (Viola) and Peyton Rodeffer (Bass).
Flight Attendant’s set at Toad’s felt like stepping into a world where indie pop polish meets chaotic alt-rock energy. Not only was their music infectious, their live show easily captured the hearts of the audience. Winegarner was an explosive fireball. She created havoc throughout the show. She even at one point threw herself into the pit for some impressive crowd surfing.
The band launched into their opener, “666” with a swagger that instantly pulled the house in. They wove shimmering bass lines through guitar riffs that hit with a crunch. Christie’s viola added incredible cinematic textures all through the show. Her viola gave Flight Attendant’s music a gnarly edge filled with sharp emotional contours. What really stood out was the interplay between the members. Their glances, grins and seamless song transitions suggested a band fully in sync and fully enjoying the madness they were conjuring up.
Songs like “Cotton Candy” “Suburban Fables” and “Phosphorescent” kept Toad’s enjoying the trip. Vocalist Karalyne’s presence commanded attention without feeling forced. Her vocals were charged up and her on-stage banter fostered a solidarity with the crowd. The audience responded with cheers. During the last song, “Crybaby”, Flight Attendant gave it their all. The music was full of destructive revelry. Also, near the end of the tune, Karalyne jumped onto the lighting rig above and sang as she swung. The house simply lost it.
This night Flight Attendant didn’t just play Toad’s Place but transformed it into their own airborne universe for the evening. And everyone had a first class ticket.
As soon as the lights dropped and Highly Suspect hit their first chords, the intensity was immediate – raw, loud and electric. The crowd roared and you could feel the walls of Toad’s shaking from the sheer power. Highly Suspect‘s music is a stew of gritty rock and swampy blues mixed with a frenzied groove. From the second you heard Johnny Stevens’ vocals, you knew this was going to be a terrific night.
In addition, Ryan Meyer’s drums were deep in the pocket while his brother Rich’s bass filled the air with thunderous claps of thunder. Matt Kofos on guitar wailed. Mark Schwartz’s keys floated ribbons of tenacious angst. They were offering up a kind of communal fire where the crowd isn’t just watching but participating. The audacious vibes Highly Suspect were letting loose was more like a shared ritual than a concert.
The first half of the set was a celebration of Mister Asylum. The initial song was “Mister Asylum” which went into “Lost” and ” Bath Salts”. I’m not sure at what point Johnny riled up the crowd even more since I left my phone in the car and it was way too cold to go back, therefore no notes. It was either during “Lydia” or “23” where he threatened to bring out chairs. He told everyone that this is a rock concert and proceeded to throw his beer into the audience which upped the crowd’s frenzied juices. The house was roused to a craze. There wasn’t any need for chairs after that.
“Mom” came next followed by “Bloodfeather”, an amazing version of “Fuck Me Up” and “Vanity”. They closed out with “Claudeland”. Musically the set delivered. There was moments of extreme heat with riff-driven savagery and stretches where the music lingered and built. Highly Suspect let the audience soak in the tension before it burst once more. The music was brutal when needed and vulnerable in spots. Highly Suspect reigned supreme.
After a short intermission, Highly Suspect returned to another round of roars. This part of the show felt a little more jammy with extended solos and pulsating vibes. “Mexico” hit hard. The edges rough but a flowing center of soothing soundscapes. “Guess What” then “Plastic Boxes” followed. The finale was glorious. “My Name Is Human” was fiery and the entire house sang along with raise fists. A exhilarating version of “Wolf” capped the night. Highly Suspect just blew the roof off of Toad’s. Everybody left sweaty and spent. Spent is what you should feel when a tremendous band plainly destroys.
If Highly Suspect plays your town or city, don’t hesitate. They will simply slay you.
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