New Yorkers may or may not be privy to the beast that is Industry City, so here’s a little rundown: 

Set deep in Brooklyn, Industry City is a space evocative of a bygone time, comprised of renovated warehouses and manufacturing buildings from back in the 1890s. Today, Industry City has become a space that privileges creativity, entrepreneurship, and houses numerous NYC-based business and art initiatives. This summer, the complex has staged an impressive concert series, presenting a curated line-up ranging from indie, rock, electronic, and more. 

Perhaps due to its location, Industry City is really bending over backwards to lure people out, and create a wonderful experience for concert goers. Following the promise of seeing the double whammy of Ian Sweet and Frankie Cosmos, we happily hopped on the train.

Set in the courtyard, the stage is set back but affords a good view of the water. Standing room only, smushed shoulder to shoulder with a whole lot of twenty-somethings, we were basking in the purple glow of the stage and fairy lights. The mood was amplified as the sun dipped behind the naval yards, casting a heady and moody hue.

With little to no introduction, Ian Sweet took to the stage and proceed to charm the crowd. Sweet writes a real good hook but remains musically complex. The songs were fuzzy and heady in the best way, with lyrics that were self-reflective and poignant. Despite some technical difficulties and a particularly mardy MacBook, Sweet put on a great set. Totally authentic and unassuming, I saw her devour a burrito prior to taking the stage. A girl after my own heart. 

Frankie Cosmos ambled up to the stage soon after and humbly began their set. New York native Greta Kline leads the band, and full on delivered. Fans of Soccer Mommy, Gesserit, R. L. Kelly, Girl Pool, and even Liz Phair, will find something that pulls at their heart strings with this crew. 

other than the long periods in-between sets, the show was really good! both Ian sweet and Frankie cosmos were awesome and seemed like they were having fun which translated well over to us

Kline and her friends seem eccentric and present somewhat adolescent, but their work is intimate, delicate -- almost private -- and nostalgic. With a deft maturity, Kline creates a world that is evocative of adolescence, drawing of the anxious and volatile experience of young adulthood. It flows gracefully from one song to the next, bouncing between somber tones and moments of angst. Their style moves between indie rock, punk, and pop, giving heavy matters a buoyancy with their bright instrumentation. It is deliciously poignant in their uncertainty, and reminiscent of the CDs you burned in high school from a whole lot of Limewire downloads. 

If you have feelings and exist in this extremely complex world, Kline’s words will resonate with you ten times over.  

All in all, there was simplicity to the show. Frankie Cosmos and Ian Sweet’s laid back demeanours matched the crowd -- or rather, lulled us all into a chilled-out stupor. Their approach was simple but effective, creating space for people to share in emotion and just be. 

As the proverbial curtains were drawn and the crowd spilled out into the streets in search of french fries and Ubers, we walked away feeling as though we had just attended an incredibly intimate show. As we ambled along, we found a deflated paper lantern in the shape of a heart, and took it upon ourselves to set it alight. Seemed right.