Rough Trade held the second edition of their indieballroom show series at The Rainbow Room (located quite a few stories above it on the 65th floor of 30 Rockefeller Center) on Sunday (7/30), headlined by Portland post-punk vets Soft Kill, who dimmed the lights to play an intense set in the fancy surroundings. There were two stages set up, and former Chromatics vocalist Ruth Radelet went on before them on the opposite stage, playing her collaboration with Soft Kill, “The Line,” along with covers of Elliott Smith and Leonard Cohen, a few songs from her debut solo EP, 2022’s The Other Side, and closing with Chromatics’ “Shadow.”
Militarie Gun, who opened the night, were without their drummer, Vince Nguyen, who had just played Sound & Fury with his other band Modern Color, and had his flight to NYC delayed indefinitely. Guitarist Waylon Trim filled in on drums, and Gina Almaguer joined them on guitar for a set that featured highlights from this year’s fantastic Life Under The Gun. They’ll be back for shows with Scowl and MSPAINT this fall, at The Meadows on September 29 and Saint Vitus on September 30.
See pictures from Sunday’s show below.
