Reviews

Nicole Atkins Says “Goodnight Rhonda Lee”…

November 20, 2017 by David K. Moseder

There has always been an element of soul in Nicole Atkins’ voice. On her new album, Goodnight Rhonda Lee, she wears it on her sleeve.... read article

Amy Lee and Evanescence at Kings Theatre photo by Kyra Kverno

Evanescence Synthesizes Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre

November 14, 2017 by B.L. Howard

It’s hard to imagine a more perfect setting for Evanescence to augment their return from a three year hiatus than the stately Gothic architecture of... read article

BottomLine / photo by Kevin Yatarola-144

"River Deep Mountain High" Finale photo by Kevin Yatarola /courtesy of Morahan Arts & Media

“Walls” Builds a Bridge Back in Time to The Bottom Line

October 18, 2017 by B.L. Howard

The famed Bottom Line Cabaret was a Greenwich Village music mecca from 1974 to its closing in 2004, a 30-year run that was both remarkable... read article

BK Americana 1 (© Alexa Hoyer)-courtesy of Go Go PR

M Shanghai String Band Performs at the 2017 Brooklyn Americana Folk Festival Stage At Brooklyn Bridge Park photo by Alexa Hoyer

Variety and Authenticity Highlight Brooklyn Americana Music Festival

October 12, 2017 by David K. Moseder

There were many standout performances at this year’s Brooklyn Americana Music Festival (September 22-24). Festival Founder Jan Bell, whose own band, The Maybelles, played at... read article

Junior Astronomers at Afro Punk photo by Ray Fontaine

Applause for Afropunk’s Artistry and Activism

August 31, 2017 by Ray Fontaine

On August 26 and 27, 2017, Afropunk called together a fantastic showcase of fashion, music, activism, and community. This year’s Brooklyn festival , held... read article

Banjoist Valerie June / photo by Eliana Rowe_21

Banjoist Valerie June at Summerstage Eliana Rowe

Valerie June’s in Tune at SummerStage!

August 30, 2017 by Howard B. Leibowitz

On a starry summer’s night, Valerie June showed concert goers at Central Park’s SummerStage why her music is spellbinding an ever growing legion of music lovers around... read article

Willie Nile’s ‘Positively Bob’ Is Positively Brilliant

July 23, 2017 by David K. Moseder

Before the catch-all term “Americana” was coined, there was a thing called “folk-rock.” Willie Nile helped keep that genre alive, adding a dash of punk... read article

Kings Theatre- marquee Screen Shot 2017-07-12 at 4.28.20 PM

AbunDance Academy Presents…Sister Act AbunDantly !

July 13, 2017 by Dominique M. Carson

The AbunDance Academy of the Arts staged a musical production, Sister Act Abundantly, at the Kings Theatre on Sunday, June 25, 2017. This event was... read article

The Isley Brothers 061817-Al Pereira (19)

The Isley Brothers – A Father’s Day Gift Through Song

June 27, 2017 by Dominique M. Carson

On Sunday, June 18th, 2017, iconic R&B group The Isley Brothers, performed live at the Kings Theatre. For this one night, Brooklyn natives witnessed the... read article

Miguel at Northside Festival - MCCarren Park Main Stage photo by Ray Fontaine

Northside Festival Lights Up The Weekend!

June 27, 2017 by Ray Fontaine

From June 7th to June 11th, the northern Brooklyn streets were filled with over 100,000 festival goers, concert hopping throughout Williamsburg, Greenpoint and Bushwick in... read article

« Previous 1 … 9 10 11 12 13 … 15 Next »

Artists on our Radar

Ciao Malz: Music With a Storyteller’s Charm

WFUV NY Slice Session- photo by Gus Philippas for FUV

Brooklyn’s indie scene is home to countless rising talents, and one that stands out is Connecticut-born, Brooklyn-based artist Malia DelaCruz better known as Ciao Malz . A self-taught musician and engineer, Malz has a gift for crafting indie pop songs that are both clever and unpolished in the best way. Her latest release, Safe Than Sorry, a four-track EP released in December 2024, showcases her evolving approach to songwriting and collaboration. Growing up surrounded by classic rock, folk and indie music, Malz was drawn to the art of storytelling. “I like songs that feel lived-in, a little rough around the edges but full of heart,” she tells Brooklyn Roads. The DIY nature of indie music was a revelation that made her realize that imperfections could be part of the sound. That perspective shaped her songwriting process, which she describes as intuitive and sometimes surprising, “It’s hard for me to tell where the songs are going at first, but the choruses are catchy.” After attending college in Queens, Brooklyn quickly became her creative home. “There’s always new and different music playing from cars, coffee shops, even the fish supply store,” she says. Playing alongside the borough’s talented musicians has kept her inspired and motivated. Among Brooklyn’s many venues, Union Pool holds a special place for her, for its intimate performance space. First featured on WFUV’s NY Slice in 2021 and once again on March 20, 2025 with her warm, dreamy single, “Always Be My Maybe,” Malz has played venues like Baby’s All Right, Bowery Electric and Pianos NYC. Her latest EP came together in an unexpected but organic way. While working on other artists’ music, she asked a band to stick around after a session to help flesh out some of her songs. “We were able to turn them into full songs pretty quickly,” she recalls. The experience shifted her perspective on collaboration, as she comments, “in the past, I had done everything myself, but after making that EP, I think of it differently.” Ciao Malz is an artist worth watching. For those looking for music that’s deeply personal and full of heart, she’s one to have on your radar.

... read article