Pop Break Live: Alt 92.3’s Not So Silent Night featuring: Muse, Florence & The Machine, Death Cab for Cutie, CHVRCHES, Bastille, Mike Shinoda, Foster the People, and AJR

Words & Photos by Patriciana tenicela

If you’re anything like me, you were ecstatic that New York was getting back an alternative radio station with the launch of Alt 92.3 in November of 2017. Like me, this station has become the go-to station for people in New York and New Jersey for alternative music.

On Thursday December 6, the station held the first annual, ‘Radio.com Presents Not So Silent Night’ at The Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The station’s first big show in its existence was powered by Radio.com, a free broadcast and internet radio platform that offers over 300 stations as well as podcasts and sports content. You can stream Alt 92.3 through it, here.

Not So Silent Night featured some of the top artists played on the station — 25% of which were lead by powerhouse female vocalists.

The show in total was five hours long, with only minutes between performances. The entire stage rotated 180 degrees, revealing the next bands gear already setup — which is a sight to be seen. During the breaks behind the scenes videos featuring the bands playing basketball and eating pizza were shown. Several of the stations radio hosts made appearances — introducing the bands and promoting the American Cancer Society — an absolutely amazing charity.

The three-piece band of brothers, AJR, kicked off the evening. They enthusiastically gave the crowd a glimpse into their songwriting process before transitioning into their hit “Burn The House Down.” These native New Yorkers only played a 15 minute set but they’ll be headlining Hammerstein Ballroom on December 21st.

AJR Setlist:

Weak

Sober Up

Burn the House Down

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The second band on the lineup was the Scottish synth pop phenomenon, CHVRCHES. Front woman Lauren Mayberry may be small, but packs a big vocal punch. She sang with such power and emotion while dancing wildly across the stage in a beaded tutu.

CHVRCHES Setlist:

Get Out

Leave a Trace

Miracle

Clearest Blue

The Mother We Share

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Next up was Linkin Park co-founder Mike Shinoda — who is currently finding major success with his new record, Post Traumatic. His set featured songs off Post Traumatic as well as throwbacks to Fort Minor and Linkin Park. Towards the end of his set he jumped down from the stage and sang to his fans, afterwards stopping to give hugs and high fives across the barricade.

Mike Shinoda Setlist:

Remember the Name (Fort Minor song)

Waiting for the End / Where’d You Go

Make It Up as I Go

About You

Over Again / Papercut

In the End (Linkin Park song)

Good Goodbye / Bleed It Out (Linkin Park song)

Running from My Shadow

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Bastille followed Shinoda delivering an incredible set of anthemic alt pop. The English group, who have announced their third studio album to be released in 2019, were a big crowd favorite. Similar to Shinoda, singer Dan Smith left the stage to join the crowd. He took things a bit further singing throughout the pit and even traversed the seats of the stadium.

Bastille Setlist:

Good Grief

Blame

Flaws

World Gone Mad

Happier (Marshmello & Bastille cover)

Quarter Past Midnight

Pompeii

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Foster the People followed Bastile with their brand of atmospheric, danceable indie rock. The band, known for their undeniable hit ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ recently dropped two new tracks — guesting on MØ’s song ‘Blur’ and their own track, ‘Worst Nites.’ The band’s latest record Sacred Hearts Club dropped in 2016, and fingers crossed on a new full length in 2019. Their set was an amalgam of older cuts, and some new tracks.

Foster the People Setlist:

Don’t Stop (Color on the Walls)

Lotus Eater

Time to Get Closer

Houdini

Worst Nites

Pumped Up Kicks

Sit Next to Me

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The block of indie rock came to a conclusion with 8-time Grammy-nominated outfit, Death Cab for Cutie. Ben Gibbard and company recently released album Thank You for Today which features fellow Not So Silent Night performer Lauren Mayberry of CHVRCHES. The band recently released their latest single, ‘Summer Nights (Jimmy Tamborelli Mix)’ on December 4 — it’s the second track off the new record. Death Cab’s set was dark and moody compared to the previous bands, not surprising obviously, and included a lengthy intro to their seminal hit — “I Will Possess Your Heart.”

Death Cab for Cutie Setlist:

I Will Possess Your Heart

The Ghosts of Beverly Drive

Gold Rush

Northern Lights

Crooked Teeth

Cath…

Soul Meets Body

The Sound of Settling

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Co-headlining the night was the amazing British group, Florence + The Machine. The band’s set was breathtaking. The band was accompanied by an eight-piece band including a harp player. Florence ran and twirled back and forth across the stage, her voice never faltering. She invited the crowd to put their phones away and take time to live in the moment and dance. As their set came to an end, Florence came out and stood atop the crowd, singing passionately.

Florence and the Machine Setlist:

Ship to Wreck

Hunger

Patricia

Dog Days Are Over

Delilah

What Kind of Man

Shake It Out

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Out of all the performances of the night, I was most excited to see Muse. I have seen them play countless times over the years as they are one of my all-time favorite acts. Their high-production value live shows often feature visually stimulating elements such as lasers, interactive projections and drones.

Muse’s setup this time around was simple — no confetti cannons, drones or pyrotechnics. They instead opted for LED clothing and instruments that lit up in neon colors.

Although their newest album Simulation Theory was released less than a month ago, it did not stop fans (myself included) from singing along to every word of the new songs. Of course, the hits came out, and the response to them were huge.

Muse is set to embark on a world tour this February and made mention of seeing the crowd again at Madison Square Garden in 2019, a date they only officially announced on December 10.

Muse Setlist:

Algorithm

Psycho

Pressure

Uprising

Break It to Me

The 2nd Law: Unsustainable

Madness

Thought Contagion

Supermassive Black Hole

Time Is Running Out

Starlight

Knights of Cydonia

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Overall, the festival was a huge success and one of the best shows I have seen all year. Hopefully that means Alt 92.3 and Radio.com will continue to put on amazing events in the future. If they do, you’ll definitely see me there.