Photos by Luda Ronky and Alexis Marzo

On Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, Melt performed at Brooklyn Steel for their highly anticipated Fall 2023 Tour kick-off. The band, known for their captivating melodies and bombastic stage presence, peppered the night with surprises, from a new song segment to a heartfelt tribute in honor of Rosh Hashanah, which brings the Jewish year to 5784.

The evening began with an electrifying set by opening band Joe Hertler and the Rainbow Seekers before Melt took the stage, kicking off their performance with “Walk to Midnight.” The crowd was in for a treat as Veronica Stewart-Frommer, the band’s guitarist, showcased her talent on the 12-string electric guitar, a first for both “Walk to Midnight” and “Plant the Garden.”

The band’s musical voyage continued with “Shy,” “Oh Brother,” and “Inside,” all equipped with soulful and introspective lyrics. They then transitioned seamlessly into “Aurelia,” the first part of an exciting new song segment. They continued with “Plant the Garden” and “The Door.” Fans then were asked to show their favorite via cheers, and decibel reader found “Plant the Garden” emerged as the winner by a mere three decibels.

The momentum surged as Melt carried the audience through “The Door,” “Sour Candy,” and “Hours.” A surprise awaited the crowd after “Hours” when Marlo Shank’s father, Mark Shankweiler, joined the stage. In a touching tribute to Rosh Hashanah, Mark blew the shofar, filling the venue with a resonant and traditional sound.

As the night continued, Melt treated their fans to a mesmerizing performance of “Don’t Want Me” and an as-yet-unnamed “New Song.” The set reached its climax as they concluded with a rendition of the classic “Go Your Own Way” and the ethereal “Waves.”

Melt then returned to the stage for an encore, delivering a rendition of Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon” and ending the night on a note as high in the sky as our closest astronomical object.

Melt
Brooklyn Steel – Brooklyn, N.Y.
Sept. 15, 2023 

Set I: Walk to Midnight, Shy, Oh Brother, Inside, Aurelia, Plant the Garden, The Door, Sour Candy, Hours, Don’t Want Me, New Song-> Go Your Own Way, Waves

Enc.: Harvest Moon

Show Notes:
– Veronica on 12-string electric guitar for “Walk to Midnight” and “Plant the Garden” for the first time.
– “Aurelia” through “The Door” was a new song segment. Fans voted on their favorite of the three, and according to the decibel reader, “Plant the Garden” was the winner.
– “New Song” is not yet named.
– After “Hours,” Marlo’s dad Mark came on stage and blew the shofar in honor of Rosh Hashanah.

Opening Band(s): Joe Hertler and the Rainbow Seekers