(Photos: Gabrielle Sierra)

Ava Luna performed at Williamsburg’s Shea Stadium on January 21st at midnight as part of the My Socialist Presents event. The night boasted free PBR for the first hour, as well as performances by Total Slacker, Caged Animals, and Osekre and The Lucky Bastards. It seemed as if Total Slacker was the big draw for the night, leaving the space a bit more negotiable after their set concluded. Still, the crowd was excited and buzzing for Ava Luna, most of the attendees being fans who had already seen the group perform. The scene was generally young with all of the hipster persuasion, decked out in winter hats and thick glasses, discussing their own bands and musical styling. It was certainly an ideal meeting spot for artsy Brooklyn singles.

I too had already seen Ava Luna perform. It was during the summer when they kicked ass at Brooklyn Bowl, and it was there that I became a fan. Their sound is a distinct one, mixing jazz, rock, and R&B with a 50’s girl group sound. There are seven members in the band, featuring Ethan Bassford on bass, Felicia Douglass on vocals, Julian Fader on drums, Carlos Hernandez, Becca Kauffman and Anna Sian on vocals and Nathan Tompkins on synthesizer. This Brooklyn band is Coney Island-based, combining popular local electronic sounds with old school doo-wop and soul.

Since there are seven members in the band, it was interesting to see this well-organized dynamic go to hell on a tiny little stage. In order to accommodate the tight Shea Stadium space and vibe the group abandoned all formality and just mashed together on the platform. Gone were the ties and dresses of their prepared shows; Ava Luna just began belting it out while clad in their tank tops and jeans. Of course they still made room for dancing, bouncing and jiving along with the audience.

The sound was clear but not nearly as dramatic as it was or could be at a larger venue. A band that features so many vocalists is best experienced in a venue that can give a clear outlet to each voice. Still, the girls (Felicia Douglass, Becca Kauffman, Anna Sian) sounded great, backing up their nerdy-looking but stage-owning lead singer (Carlos Hernandez) with soul. The electro TV On The Radio-esque beats got the crowd dancing, and more than one onlooker compared the group to the Dirty Projectors. (“But dirtier!” one guy yelled after taking a swig from a bottle that he then stuffed back down into his pants.)
Ava Luna often performs in Brooklyn, and usually for a reasonable price, so I would definitely recommend checking them out. MP3s of their albums Services and 3rd Avenue Island are available for sale.