Xenia Rubinos is on to something. On her newest album Black Terry Cat (Anti-), the Brooklyn-based, multi-faceted performance artist draws from a treasure trove of influences - r&b, hip hop, soul, punk rock, funk, Caribbean music - and creates exciting and enticing sonic morsels that are (probably) unlike anything else you've ever gobbled up.
So yeah, when the funky, fresh, and super cool musician signed up to bring her slick, super-ecclectic happenings down to Beautiful Sunset Park Brooklyn for our second edition of Bands + Brews, we knew it would be something special. So we pounced. Mother Nature, on the other hand, did it's best ot make sure the show never happened. On our walk into the office that morning, you could cut the air with a knife. Things felt combustible in the meteorology department and our collective anxiety was not helped by the warning of severe storms with 60+mph winds from our friends here at Industry City. Yet for most of the day we were hopeful. The stage was set. The lights went up. The bands arrived. It was downright beautiful...until it wasn't.
Around 4PM one wicked front rolled through NYC, bringing with it a wall of wind and biblical rainfall. The crew scrambled, tarping up equipment and batting down the hatch. We lost a tent, a guitar stand, and nearly a bass cab and head to a ferocious wind that seriously came out of nowhere. Some of us spent the lightning fast storm cowering under a tent on the stage hoping the amps that were currently sitting in a puddle of water were unplugged. It was wet and wild. It was actually kind of fun! And then the storm passed, clearing the way for one of those types of absolutely perfect summer nights the mind tends to return to when the city is in winter's grasp.
If you were there, you know what we're talking about. If you weren't, you missed one hell of a show! Xenia brought songs from Black Terry Cat and man oh man, did she ever get down and get funky for a crowd that took a leap of faith and descended upon Industry City on a night it would have been very easy to say, "F*ck It...I'll go to the next one". R+B, Hip Hop, Soul, Punk Rock, Funk...it all lives in Xenia's revolutionary sound, and as she bound into the crowd to whip 'em up in a frenzy, well...we just hope the crack of our jaws hitting the floor didn't pick up in any of our audio engineer's mics. Cause man...it was AWESOME.
Transcript
out to our Bands & Brews sessions here at Industry City. I, I just can't seem to stop stars from falling I, I just can't wrap my world around it darling You call, you call me out just like my lonely lover You see, I've seen a thousand miles just like this I feel, I feel I feel, I feel Mami just feel like she needs to breathe today, today Give a little space 'cause I'm going insane And I just need to breathe today I'm looking for my glasses in the lost and found Willie smacked Papo Then they fell down You call me up just like I was your last lost lover You see, you see me more than words could ever Oh, just bestill my heart and lay me out to pasture Mami just feel like she needs to breathe today, today Give a little space 'cause I'm going insane And I just need to breathe today I'm looking for my glasses in the lost and found I drank my last five dollars it's raining now Oh Mami don't feel like she got it down Watch out 'cause I heard that's coming around I feel, I feel, I feel I can't seem to look inside I can't deny You won't deny I cannot seem to look you in the eye You shake like a thousand thunders Mami just feel like she needs to breathe today, today Well I, I, I can't seem to Well I, I, I just can't seem to win Well I, I, I can't seem to I'm just a little star and I'm falling I'm falling down Every single day I buy just what you sell me Every single day I eat the stuff you feed me Every single day sacrifice for my family Every single day living in the places you built for me Oh just like I Oh just like I Oh just like I love, I kill, I kill Oh just like I Oh just like I Oh just like I love, I kill I'll fucking kill you Every single day I go to work I fill my cup Every single day I pray to God to lift me up Oh just like I Oh just like I Oh just like I love, I kill, I kill I'm just like my mother I'm just like my father I'm just like your sister, your brother and your mother Oh with the same teeth Oh with the same teeth Oh with the same teeth I smile, I bite you With the same lips Oh with the same lips Oh with the same lips, I kiss, I lie too With the same eyes Oh with the same eyes Oh with the same eyes you use, I watch you With the same hands Oh with the same hands Oh with the same hands that feed, I stab you Oh just like I Oh just like I Oh just like I love, I kill, I kill Oh just like I Oh just like I Oh just like I love, I kill I'll kill you - Thank you. How y'all feeling tonight? It's a warm night. I'd like to introduce the incredible Indigo Street, who's going to be joining us on guitar. Give it up for Indigo, special guest. French bistro Dominican chef Italian restaurant Boricua chef Chinese takeout Mexican chef Nouveau America Bachata in the back So French bistro Dominican chef Italian restaurant Boricua chef Chinese takeout Mexican chef Nouveau America Bachata in the back Brown walks your baby Brown walks your dog Brown raised America in place of its mom Brown cleans your house Brown takes the trash Brown even wipes your granddaddy's ass Brown sews the buttons back on your shirt Brown picks the fruits Brown planted in the dirt Brown drives your bus Brown drives your taxi Brown brings your lunch on a bike when you're relaxing I want it, want it all now I want it all now We build the ghettos and we tear them down Brown lays bricks Brown builds your wall Brown tears them down and builds them again Brown breaks his back Brown takes the flack Brown gets cut because his papers are whack Brown sits down Brown does frown Brown's up in a hospital gown Brown has not Brown gets shot Brown got what he deserved because he fought I want it, want it all now I want it all now We sail the boat that's going to take you to town We build the ghettos and we tear them down French bistro Dominican chef Italian restaurant Boricua chef Chinese takeout Mexican chef Nouveau America Bachata in the French bistro Dominican chef Italian restaurant Boricua chef Chinese takeout Mexican chef Nouveau America Bachata in the It's a party across America, Bachata in the back It's a party across America, Bachata in the It's a party across America, Bachata in the back It's a party across America, Bachata in the back Toma chocolate Paga lo que debes Tómalo Págalo Toma chocolate Paga lo que debes Tómalo Págalo Toma chocolate Paga lo que debes Tómalo Págalo I want it, want it all now Want it all now I want it, want it all now Want it all now We're the one that make sure that tree fall down When the tree fall down it don't make a sound Oh no, no, we're the one that make the tree fall down When the tree fall down it don't make a sound French bistro Dominican chef Italian restaurant Boricua chef Chinese takeout Mexican chef Nouveau America Bachata in the back So French bistro Dominican chef Italian restaurant Boricua chef Chinese takeout Mexican chef Nouveau America Bachata in the back Party in America, no, no, no, no, Party in America It is a party across America Bachata in the back - That's Indigo Street. Quiero quiero quiero quiero quiero Quiero quiero quiero quiero quiero Ghetto ghetto ghetto ghetto ghetto Quiero tener calor You're gonna tell him what you wanna You're a million black stars in that fearless night again You're gonna tell him what he wants to He's a million black stars and he's gonna live a million years Gonna tell him what you wanna You're a million black stars in that fearless night again Gonna tell you what you wanna hear You're a million black stars in that fearless black night again I know this one's not too fine, You'll figure it out Can you tell me which way to run, run, run, run, run Quiero quiero quiero quiero quiero Ghetto ghetto ghetto ghetto ghetto What you're feelin' What you're feelin' is all over me Like an evening star on that evening sea What you're feelin' What you're feelin' is all over Like a midday sun on that midnight sea when it's You're gonna tell him what you wanna You're a million black stars in that fearless black night again He's gonna tell you what you wanna hear You're a million black stars in that fearless black night again I know this one's not too fine You'll figure it out Can you tell me which way to run, run, run, run, run, run, run Run, run, run, run What you're feelin' is all over me Like a big black star burning holes in the sea What you're feelin' is all over You're a dipset Make people upset don't you know I know this one's not too fine You'll figure it out Can you tell me which way to run, which way to run Busca, busca Busca aguilas que te lleven lejos de mi Feeling so good - Thank you. Info at the fingertips I know nothing Tongue off my lips Say something My eyes are blinking I look around I'm only sleeping I can't make my mind up about anything Play hide and go seek with a prince charming Do what they want you to and while you're looking around thinking it's cool You miss the real thing Give the numbers to the bigger names I don't know her She don't know me We all agree We don't know anyone I don't know me I'm only sleeping I won't say anything at all No, I won't say anything at all No, I won't say anything at all Anything at all Anything at all It's all in front of us It's far away It happened very far away Leave it to another day Never leave for tomorrow what can be done today They'll smile at you and say It's all okay, you're only sleeping You're dreaming I'll leave it up to you to tell the story to your friends Write about it on your wall I've got so many likes that time you won't believe me If you're not there, you're nowhere Where is the place you are? Put it down, put it down God is dead Dogs bark The fish are jumping The sun is hot Babies cry No one knows the reasons why We're only dreaming I won't say anything at all No, I won't say anything at all No, I won't say anything at all Anything at all Anything at all I won't say anything at all No, I won't say anything at all No, I won't say anything at all Anything at all Anything at all Oh baby, love me Don't lay down Don't lay Mami Don't lay down Don't lay down Don't lay down baby Down baby Don't lay down Don't lay Mami Don't lay down When you find your way out, come on and find me Whose hair is compulsively fried Whose skin is bleached Whose nose is too big Whose mouth is too loud Whose butt is too broad Whose feet are too flat Whose face is too black Look at me Look at me Look at you Look at yourself looking at your selfie Where's your selfie Let go your selfie I tried to see my ego but was blinded by my selfie I won't say anything at all No, I won't say anything at all No, I won't say anything at all Anything at all Anything at all I won't say anything at all No, I won't say anything at all No, I won't say anything at all Anything at all Anything at all I rule this place with a golden fist I won't play but to keep you open Hide a little sliver of this feeling in the mist I won't play but to keep you open Baby where you're not I don't wanna be Baby where you're not Don't wanna be Baby where you're not I don't wanna be Telling you right now what you mean I've got things to make your love grow thicker I'm on planes that make your headspace bigger All my stories make your love so sick Make your love heartsick Make you love me love me love me Wherever you go Wherever you go Wherever you go Wherever you go Baby where you're not I don't wanna be Baby where you're not I don't wanna be Baby where you're not I don't wanna be Telling you right now what you mean I've got things to make your love grow thicker I'm on planes that make your headspace bigger All my stories make your love so sick Make your love heartsick Make you love me love me love me I've got things to make your love grow thick I'm on planes that make your headspace big All my stories make your love so sick Make your love heartsick Make you love me love me love me Give it away Give it away Let it be said Let it be written Let it be thought Let you be bought Where you gonna go when they give you the deal Give it away Give it away Let it be said Let it be written Let it be thought Let you be bought Where are you gonna go when you're going Where you're not Baby where you're not I don't wanna be telling you right now what you mean to me I've got things to make your love grow thicker I'm on planes that make your headspace bigger All my stories make your love so sick Make your love heartsick Make you love me love me love I've got things to make your love grow thick I'm on planes that make your headspace big All my stories make your love so sick Make your love heartsick Make you love me love me love me Ahh love to love you baby Ahh love to love you papa Don't be afraid of yourself, don't - Thank you.
Artist Bio
Music maker Xenia Rubinos uses her powerful voice to create beats and melodies from scratch. Xenia's sound grows from a wide range of influences from Caribbean rhythms and beat music to minimalism and indie rock all delivered with a soulful punk aura. Her debut record, Magic Trix, is an ecstatic collection of songs featuring layered beats, crunchy keyboards, and driving syncopated rhythms.
Audiences and critics alike have lauded her rafter-shaking live show, describing the CubaRican songstress as "redefining exuberance." She has toured the US nationally including showcases at SXSW. Xenia's music has been featured on MTV, WNYC, East Village Radio, The New Yorker, Fader, Vice, and TimeOutNY.