Re:SET is taking the festival experience city to city, with their star-studded, traveling lineup. The concert series was headlined by Steve Lacy, LCD Soundsystem and Boygenius, each supported by equally talented artists. I had never seen any sort of concert like this and think it’s really cool that an expansive concert experience is offered to a larger audience. The overall setting was enjoyable as well, as attendees were able to enjoy festival vibes. Overall, Re:SET is a great, accessible event that I would recommend to any music enjoyer.
I attended the first day of Re:SET’s Atlanta shows, where Steve Lacy, James Blake, Toro y Moi, and Fousheé performed. It was a perfectly crafted lineup, as each artist complimented the next one well, leading to a smooth, cohesive show. Lacy and Fousheé often work together, so their chemistry was apparent, seen similarly with Blake’s and Toro y Moi’s electronic influences. It took place in Atlanta’s Central Park with just one main stage but offered food, drinks, and a local pop-up vintage shop. I had previously been there for Shaky Knees and it’s my favorite outdoor venue in Atlanta, so good choice Re:SET!
Fousheé
Fousheé kicked the day off with energy, despite coming onto the stage solo. She had such a presence, partly because they used mirrors to create a whole group of Fousheés on stage. The versatile artist started with her new punk-centered sound, introduced in her most recent album softCORE. “Simmer Down”, the empowering opening track, was a highlight, as her vocal ability was perfectly paired with its rough sound. Before her performance, I had never heard a Mariah Carey-esque high note with such aggression.
She then pivoted, announcing that she fell in love and is entering her softerCORE era. The following songs saw a complete vibe switch, with a slower, acoustic feel, coupled with hopeful, caring lyrics. Her upcoming music will be something any romantic should look out for.
Then, she went right back to her previous energy with an exciting performance of “stupid bitch,” where we got the pleasure of watching her build the melody with a synth board. She sadly had a shorter set, ending it strong with “spend the money”. Although usually joined by Lil Uzi Vert, Fousheé killed it solo and the song served as a fantastic finale to a great set.
Toro y Moi
Joined by his band of keys, DJ and bass, Chaz Bear took to the stage as Toro y Moi. He started as lead singer, with my favorite, “9 – 19 – 17_B_Blackhole_Hihi_V3” (which I would imagine is referenced as just ‘Blackhole’) featuring his classic chill-wave sound.
The set only got better as Bear took to the guitar to lay down some groovy melodies. “Ordinary Pleasure” was such a jam that it got everyone dancing!
A highlight was “The Difference”, a collab with fellow artist Flume. I’m not normally the biggest fan of house music, but this song took it to a very enjoyable next level. Toro y Moi was a pleasure to watch and listen to.
James Blake
I was excited about Blake’s performance as early as the stage set-up when a stagehand wheeled out an old synthesizer and more pianos than one can imagine. He didn’t let me down either, opening with the hypnotic “Life Round Here”, which he vamped up with a cinematic live outro.
A favorite moment from the set was when drummer, Ben Assiter, looped the samples for “CMYK” live on his drum pad, which made the song even more impressive. Another was when he treated us with a beautiful performance of “Hope She’ll Be Happier” by Bill Withers.
He then reminded us of his achievement within the industry, performing “Mile High” featuring Travis Scott, “Hummingbird” with Metro Boomin, and “Coming Back” featuring SZA, all before finishing with a gorgeous cover of Frank Ocean’s “Godspeed.”
His set was wrapped with a twenty-minute live EDM set, getting the whole crowd loose and ready for Steve Lacy.
Steve Lacy
Lacy gave us the show of a lifetime, playing all his best music, new and old. The stage was transformed for his set, with giant, moving block projectors to add to the visuals. He was accompanied by a full band and a trio of backup singers, matching him in all black.
The set started strong with a dramatized version of “Helmet”, preparing the audience for an exciting night ahead. His stage presence shined, as his casual attitude made the show environment comfortable and even more enjoyable.
Throwbacks like “N Side”, “Backseat” and “When I” hooked any long-term fan, before all attention was turned to Odd Future alumni Tyler the Creator, dancing just in front of the VIP section. It was crazy seeing the crowd compress just to get a look at him!
Two of my favorites, “Playground” and “Infrunami” got sing-a-longs, with the latter getting the whole accapella treatment. They were followed by a beautiful vocal performance of “Some” and a punky take of “4real”, seeing Lacy truly deliver as the night’s headliner.
He paid his respects to The Internet, playing “C u girl”, his first solo song they encouraged him to make, and “Curse”, a fan-favorite of theirs. More worlds collide as Lacy brought Fousheé back out to perform “Sunshine”, a hit off of Lacy’s recent Gemini Rights. Their chemistry shined as they harmonized the final melody of the song.
He closed the set off with “Static”, getting the whole involved as they chanted ‘dump that fucker!’ The whole show came to its climax as Lacy took to mid-stage and performed the final verse just him and his guitar. He wished us a good night and wrapped up a fantastic night.
Re:SET put together a really enjoyable festival experience, highlighted by talented artists, music enjoyers, and good vibes all around. It was my favorite I have attended, short and sweet, with nothing but good music. Keep your ears out; you do not want to miss anything from them in the future.
Jacob Feinberg is a student at the University of Georgia, studying marketing and music business, with hopes to find a career in music journalism or artist management. After years of listening to and studying music, Jacob has decided to share his knowledge and opinion through Vinyl Mag. His favorite genre is rap/hip-hop, but you can catch him listening to basically any genre (r&b, jazz, rock, etc.). Jacob has a deep love for music and artistry, and he hopes to apply that by highlighting Athens's rich music scene and all its talented artists.