Alex G Vibes at The Anthem
The artist’s mix of songs and instrumentals with strong melodies and a psychedelic light show engulfed The Wharf venue.
Words by Matt Bailey
Photos by James Todd Miller
Singer-songwriter Alex G packed about 30 songs into just over two hours. A gifted triple threat (writer, instrumentalist, and vocalist), Alex’s legions of fans seem to recognize each number by the opening note.
Alex G opened his recent set at The Anthem with “Louisiana.” The number showed off his normal vocals as well as his ability to access a near-grating nasal falsetto. It was perfectly weird, which may have been the point.
At The Anthem on Oct. 7, Alex G moved effortlessly from tune to tune, sometimes without so much as a beat in between. Just three songs in, he broke out an accordion for “June Guitar.” It makes sense that Alex would be proficient with a number of instruments—especially those that have a range of sounds. He came to fame creating so-called “lo-fi” music in his home. It was a style of making music so a part of him, that Alex only recently began to record from a professional studio.
In performance, though, the fuzzy sound of such homegrown music gives out in favor of the clean sound of live instruments, while still maintaining its quirkiness. For instance, “Oranges” had a glassy, cartoonish percussion hit throughout. It was just odd enough to keep your attention.
Watch the official visualizer for “Oranges” by Alex G on YouTube:
Alex’s songwriting is very introspective. Mellow melodies and first-person lyrics make for something akin to a pop-infused adult contemporary sound. The pensive “Afterlife” is a prime example, with its reflective look at childhood and the refrain “I began another life.”
Alex’s set features two levels of work lights supported by Christmas light-draped scaffolding on either side of the stage. (He would scale the scaffolding at opportunities during instrumental breaks. The crowd would then promptly go nuts.) There was also fog. Lots and lots of fog. So much fog and backlighting that it often had the effect of obscuring Alex G and his bandmates. No matter. Alex G was using the lights, structures, and sounds to create a vibe for his fans. He fully engulfed the Anthem in his artistry. And it worked.
It works so well, he’s now playing some of the most storied venues in all of music. He (and presumably his trippy scaffolding lights) will headline cavernous stage at Radio City Music Hall this month. I’m sure he’ll have the Big Apple vibing, too.
Here are some photos of Alex G performing live at The Anthem on Oct. 7, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of James Todd Miller.
