James Blake at BAM Harvey Theater
photo by Ellen Qbertplaya

James Blake played first of 2 NYC solos show at BAM, covered "Barbie Girl" (pics, video)

James Blake is in the middle of a rare run of solo piano shows; after playing two in LA last week, he headed to NYC for another pair at Brooklyn’s BAM Harvey Theater, the first of which was on Tuesday night (12/17). After an introduction from James’ girlfriend, The Good Place actress Jameela Jamil, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah writer Josh Johnson did a half hour stand-up set, and then it was time for James to take the stage.

Playing largely from January’s Assume Form, as well as 2016’s The Colour in Anything and 2013’s Overgrown, James also did a number of covers, including Billie Eilish’s “When the Party’s Over,” Bill Withers’ “Hope She’ll Be Happier,” Don McLean’s “Vincent,” Joni Mitchell’s “A Case of You,” Frank Ocean’s “Godspeed,” and Aqua’s infamous 1997 pop hit “Barbie Girl,” which he led into with a gorgeous piano solo. The crowd went especially nuts for “Retrograde,” with one attendee yelling that she was going to sing every word. He teased her, saying that wasn’t possible, since he was about to sing a song that had yet to be released, “Say What You Will.”

See the setlist, and watch videos of the “Barbie Girl” cover in NYC and LA, below; pictures from night one in NYC are in the gallery above.

James’ second solo NYC show is tonight (12/18), and like the first night, it’s sold out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6dVMPNrcnU

Setlist: James Blake at BAM Harvey Theater, 12/17/2019
The Colour In Anything
Love Me In Whatever Way
Say What You Will
I’ll Come Too
When The Party’s Over (Billie Eilish)
Life Round Here
Godspeed (Frank Ocean)
Retrograde
Hope She’ll Be Happier (Bill Withers)
Barbie Girl (Aqua)
Vincent (Don McLean)

Encore:
A Case of You (Joni Mitchell)

photos by Ellen Qbertplaya