Sometimes, going into the city for a show feels like magic. Sometimes, it feels like being in the only train car on NJ Transit where the A/C is broken. Perhaps it all comes down to perspective, but I think so much of what determines the “worth it”-ness of a voyage into NYC from Central Jersey is how much unfiltered, unabashed excitement courses through you when you think about getting into the venue.
On the first truly cloistering day of the summer, Winona Fighter made the trek to Brooklyn, New York to grace the stage at Elsewhere. Zone One, the venue’s inside stage, has a capacity of 250. If you asked me, I would say that Winona Fighter should be playing venues three times this size, easily, but it’s typical to think that your favorite artist is capable of anything and everything. More than one date on the band’s Yes Chef Tour has sold out, even in places larger than this. The demand from the Fight Club, their loyal fanbase, was so great that not only did Winona Fighter add a second leg to their tour, but still had to go back and add nearly double the amount of dates they were playing.
The support acts across this tour have been varied, with only one opener playing more than once. Good Boy Daisy, the only opener featured more than once, absolutely delivered exactly the experience I love to have when I see a band perform for the first time. Strong vocalists that sound good on not only the heavier sounding songs, but also the ones that lean far lighter, matched with very intentional instrumentals, and great stage presence to top it off. Hallie and Dylinn Mayes, the twin sisters behind Good Boy Daisy, are both forces to be reckoned with. If you’re not already on the Good Boy Daisy train, you need to be. Start with “Hate You When You Party” and “Selfish,” and then thank me later.
Upon starting the show, Coco, Winona Fighter’s frontwoman, promised the crowd that they’d play every song off their debut album, My Apologies to the Chef, whether or not we liked it. That meant they’d play your favorite song without a doubt, but if they played your least favorite… Well, that was none of their business. They were here to bring the music and the energy, and they could not possibly have delivered more. From the moment they stepped foot on stage, the trio were knocking into each other playfully, moving without stopping even for a second. The crowd screamed loud, but the band screamed back even louder. There’s something incredibly special about watching people who are that passionate live out their dreams right in front of you.
As promised, they did make their way through My Apologies to the Chef, though not in tracklist order. There were a few small departures along the way — one for a high energy cover of iconic NYC hip-hop legends Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage,” and one to play their own song, “NYC,” off of 2022’s EP, Father Figure. It’s one of two songs from that EP that didn’t make it onto their full length debut album (and my personal favorite Winona Fighter song), so getting to hear it live was an absolute treat.
Despite the Hot Mulligan show going on upstairs that night, which Coco noted she would’ve had a hard time deciding not to go to had it not been for her own show downstairs, there was no better place to be than Zone One. Few bands put on a show half as good as Winona Fighter — it’s so easy to tell that these are three people who love what they’re doing, who love doing it together, and who love the audience they’ve cultivated that they get to share this space with. It’s been mentioned more than once by the band that the Fight Club is like no other. From frat dudes to sweet alternative girls to younger kids, everyone is welcome and, without a doubt, everyone shows respect to each other. It speaks volumes to the kind of energy Winona Fighter is putting out into the world, and it’s an honor to not only witness but truly be a part of.
Winona Fighter still has some more tour dates coming up this summer — this is a tour you don’t want to miss. They’re also active on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok for the Fight Club to keep up with their shenanigans, both on and off stage.
All photos appear courtesy of Jordan Ames for Honorable Mention Magazine
