An intimate evening with Corbin

People were palpably buzzing at Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg as they waited for Corbin to take the stage. After eight years spent offstage, and three since the artist (formerly known as Spooky Black) had released new music, this April, Corbin reemerged with a new album, Crisis Kid, which sees him shift from the dark side into an almost ’80s new-wave realm. Though his work has never lacked depth or weight, the project offers a new side of Corbin, one with heightened awareness, both of himself and the world around him. It’s reflected in a sound that’s far more raw, guitar-driven, soundtracking an emotional excavation, as he navigates addiction and isolation in an attempt to find hope, and humanity. 

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Though the throughlines of his work remain very much his own — honesty, an R&B cadence, a velvety backdrop of ambient sound — Corbin has changed. The audience, however, hung onto his every breath, singing along with every word, new and old. The subtlety of it all was striking, and well suited — standing to the side of the stage, semi-obscured by low lighting, Corbin crooned out, swaying lightly as his voice filled the room. This minimalist stage presence allowed the emotional depth of his music to take center stage, creating an intimate atmosphere that resonated with the audience. We all swayed with him, to a setlist that included tracks like “ctrl alt del,” “Carbon Monoxide,” “Crisis Kid,” and “Take the Blame So I Don’t Have To.” The crowd didn’t just feel interconnected — they felt locked in.

For those who missed the Brooklyn show, Corbin’s tour continues with upcoming dates, including a performance at El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles on May 22.