LIVE REVIEW: ALT BLK ERA @ The Underworld, London
On an otherwise normal Wednesday night in Camden, London’s alternative music scene gathered at The Underworld for a finale headline show that felt like a celebration of young talent, sisterhood, and unapologetic self-expression. ALT BLK ERA, the dynamic sister duo comprised of Chaya and Nyrobi, took to the stage with a calm electrifying presence, and proved exactly why they’ve become one of the most exciting new acts in the British alternative scene. Selling out The Underworld is no small feat, especially on a debut tour, but the sisters took it in their stride and crafted an immersive experience that left the crowd exhilarated and joyful by it’s end.
On a busy Wednesday night, a late finish and delayed tube during the day meant missing MONTYKEATES’ opening electronica set but arriving just in time for the second opener to pick up the energy of the somewhat muted crowd. Taking to the stage before ALT BLK ERA was the pint-sized, plaid-clad punk rocker with ringlety red hair, BEX. Off-mic, she spoke softly, radiating childlike awe at playing such an iconic venue, but when in performance mode, she transformed, energetically strutting and snarling like a seasoned rock veteran. BEX’s sound is a punchy mish-mash of alt and punk rock, fuelled by anger and frustration but with a surprisingly sweet and bubbly vocal delivery. Whilst she dialled up her stage presence to full throttle from start to finish, the music itself was somewhat unremarkable and indistinct, with the songwriting sometimes lacking depth. Songs like Taste Better and crybaby verge on childish and uppity, rather than having the intended independent exuberance, particularly when combined with her extremely high choruses.
The impact of her lyrics were dulled by overly saccharine vocal layers, and ultimately came off as bratty at times. Unusually, BEX had no guitarists supporting her live vocals but instead had two basses, which ultimately created a big problem when her own bass completely cut out and halted the show, forcing on an overly repetitive chant of “bass bass bass” to chode someone from the sound desk to awkwardly appear on stage and eventually help her fix the issue. Nevertheless, one thing to her credit was her consistent unwavering level of energy, which the crowd willingly reciprocated. Clearly an experienced performer, she even encouraged a call and response from an otherwise shy crowd for SPYD4 K1NG. By the end, she’d done her job flawlessly as an opener: phones were pocketed, the crowd was off their feet, and the room was primed for the headliner. Her music might not yet leave a lasting mark, but her stage presence? Top tier.
Rating: 7/10
The set began with an eerie, robotic voice blasting over the speakers, with the voice of a guardian angel heralding the arrival of the Rave Immortal, and setting the tone for an evening which intertwined music, storytelling, and rebellion. The crowd was a beautifully diverse mix of Londoners, all energetic and highly anticipating the show. It was particularly refreshing to see a sea of femme-presenting fans, many of them people of colour, who had clearly found a safe space with ALT BLK ERA’s music, where they could revel in the chaos and catharsis of punk-infused rave anthems.
Dressed in striking contrast, Chaya in head-to-toe black and Nyrobi in pristine white, the sisters embodied a yin-and-yang aesthetic that mirrored their vocal duality. Their energy grew slowly from the first note, gently bouncing off one other with the kind of chemistry that only close siblings could muster. London crowds are notoriously hard to impress, having the world of live music at their doorstep, but the energy from the crowd was truly joyful. At first, the audience swayed and nodded along to Freak Show and just absorbed the music, but by the time their viral hit My Drummer’s Girlfriend kicked in, the room erupted in cheers. Bodies surged forward, and the faces of the sisters softened and relaxed – and that energy carried on till the end.
Alt Blk Era took the bold step of performing their debut album in full and in order, and wove a narrative that felt deeply personal yet had an element of universality in who it resonated with. The sisters moved through the set with bursts of cute, understated choreography – nothing overly polished, but charming nevertheless. There’s room for growth with their stage presence and performance, certainly, as is common with those not yet tenured with live performances. As ALT BLK ERA’s musical narrative evolves, one can imagine them leaning further into the theatricality of their songwriting, enhancing their storytelling with more deliberate staging and movement, but for now, their heartfelt authenticity was enough to carry the performance.
The standout moment of the night, however, was Catch Me If You Can, where the sisters stood back-to-back and Chaya’s haunting vocals took centre stage against a gothic, almost ethereal instrumental. It was a departure from their usual high-energy sound, and it stole the show – proof that the duo’s range extends far beyond hyperactive jump-up anthems and that there is room for that narrative and storytelling to find even deeper roots. If there’s one thing that became undeniably clear by the end of the night, it was that ALT BLK ERA are still growing into their prowess. The performance, whilst bursting with enthusiasm and charisma, carried the slight rawness of a band that is still finding their footing on bigger stages. But that is not a criticism, far from it – there’s something thrilling about witnessing a band on the cusp of something greater, and ALT BLK ERA has the ingredients to become a defining act of the younger Gen-Z alternative wave.
Selling out The Underworld is an iconic milestone, but for ALT BLK ERA, it feels like only the first chapter. The sisters have budding talent and an audience that is supportive and ready to follow them wherever they go next – with targeted direction and clear vision, they are well on their way to the cusp of something great. So, keep your eyes on ALT BLK ERA, because if this show was any indication, they’re just getting started. They’re one to watch – very closely.
Rating: 8/10
Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in London from C Wilkinson here:
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