Two Feet at Brooklyn Steel
by Katie Zepf
Hailing from Harlem, Two Feet (a.k.a. Zachary William Dess) merges both indie rock and electronic, with a heavy focus on the bass. I had previously seen a short set from Dess at the Governor’s Ball in June, and so was excited to see him headline his own show at Williamsburg’s Brooklyn Steel last Saturday (10/27).
Playing to a crowd dressed in Halloween costumes, Two Feet was joined on stage by Geoffrey Hufford, who played both keyboard and percussion. Dess' set featured songs from his new album A 20 Something F*ck, along with popular singles from his EPs First Steps and Momentum. While most of Dess’ songs place a focus on instrumentals over lyrics, fans still knew every word to every song he played. Mid-show, Dess put his own take on Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine”, infusing electro beats into the soulful song.
Compared to his set at Gov Ball, I could see how Dess’ confidence as a performer has grown. He was much more interactive with the audience, and wasn't afraid to move around stage and take risks with his setlist, spontaneously adding in a few tracks that he admitted he had never played live.
For his finale, Dess played his most popular song, “Go F*ck Yourself”. Then, just like he did at Gov Ball, Dess indulged the fans by playing it a second time. For his encore, he asked the audience to choose which song they wanted to hear again. Voting in cheers, the audience chose his recent hit “I Feel Like I’m Drowning.” Dess played an extended rendition that electrified the crowd by standing on top of the barricade, allowing fans the chance to see him up close.
Opening for Two Feet was New York electronic musician Tim9o9. Appearing on stage with a DJ set in dim lighting, Tim played a series of energetic techno beats that set the mood for what was to come.
While not officially touring, Two Feet will headline a show in LA at the Fonda Theatre (Nov 16) before opening for Panic! At the Disco’s tour in early 2019, which includes a show at the Barclays Center on Jan 19.