Fun, fashionable, and funky, Zinadelphia delivered her new EP The Magazine to a thrilled near-capacity concert of adoring fans.
Prior to playing at Amsterdam 651, Zinadelphia posted on her Instagram story that the space was large and fans “filled it up”. This was true, as the venue had fans close to the merchandise table in the rear. And fans displayed exceptional devotion…audibly singing to many songs, dressing in her style, and staying to meet with her at the show’s end.
The Magazine is Zinadelphia’s new EP, with another EP and several singles dotting her catalog prior to its September release. Throughout the concert, an unseen narrator spoke the six ugly truths that coincide with the six tracks on the album. Each was delivered with a sense of the grim and upbeat that exemplifies many of her songs. For example, one ugly truth is “Your partner is not Jesus. They’ve just got a way with words”. This coincides with the song “Knock the Wind”, with lyrics such as “I thought you were Jesus/Water-walking sneakers/I could never leave you/’Cause I was a believer”.
And that is part of the appeal to Zinadelphia. You are drawn to her soulful singing, you stay for her honest lyrics delivered with retro pop flair. With icons like Nancy Sinatra and Gloria Gaynor, she invokes a boots-gonna-walk-all-over-you attitude alongside the honesty of life’s struggles. She spoke of the Almost Famous quote by Penny Lane: “I always tell the girls, never take it seriously, if you never take it seriously, you never get hurt, you never get hurt, you always have fun, and if you ever get lonely, just go to the record store and visit your friends”. After cheers and applause, she led into her song “Call Up Nancy”.
During another ugly truth, she played the Put Down a Finger game about issues with exes. This led into “Zinfandel”: “Oh Zinfandel/once I’m awake in a few hours/Maybe I should sit and talk with you for a while/But I avoid my problems/When it’s those problems that hurt you”. And an audible chorus singalong. Later, she discussed how girls are taught to be quiet. And then paid homage to Gloria Gaynor with a slower, somber cover of “I WIll Survive”. All of this added up to an honest and personal connection to her audience through the music.
The crescendo of these influences came at her closing. Playing a verse and chorus of “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)” by Nancy Sinatra, she transitioned into the finale of “Love Over Glory”, one of her more popular tracks and perhaps the most funky, pop-forward one in her catalog. If anything was missing from the music, this track and a few others are bolstered by horns and synthesizers that felt missing from her 2-piece (yet perfectly capable) band. A minor point, nevertheless.
Opening the night was Californian Lauren Juzang, playing a solo guitar set. Tender, warm, she sang heartfelt songs of love and affection, such as “Yeehoo!”: “I’m coming clean on my knees/I’m beggin’ please don’t ever leave or change the way you look at me”. A highlight of her performance was a stripped-down version of Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” with a big surprise. Zinadelphia and her band joined on stage with party favors and balloons that spelled YAY to celebrate Juzang’s last day on the tour. Juzang later returned the favor by joining Zinadelphia on stage for “Here Me Now”.
After the show, Zinadelphia stayed to greet a lengthy guest line to talk at length with them. She signed everything from merchandise to sneakers to body parts. One even had a cherry tattoo just like Zinadelphia’s. For a singer who has built a devoted following by connecting with fans after multiple opening gigs, fans will surely remember the night. And anticipate the next issue.