Show Review: Samsara, Camisole, Don’t Tell Iris at Night Club 101, NYC.
May 30th, 2026.
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Two bands broke guitar strings in pursuit of greatness
May 31st, 2026
We spent a spring Saturday in NYC on Governors Island. We stowed away on a ferry from Brooklyn’s terminal 6 to watch the Sail Grand Prix. Giant catamaran boats raced and whipped across the New York Harbor in front of Lady Liberty. It was quite a sight to behold. It was all over before sundown, though, and once back on land we felt like getting electrified by some sound. So we clawed over to Manhattan to Night Club 101 to catch Samsara, Camisole, and Don’t Tell Iris light up the lower east side. Here’s our account of the sound we found:
Rhode Island's Don’t Tell Iris set the highest bar for an opener we’ve seen all year. Their twist on loud Americana had Wednesday’s vocal croon, the spooky-western guitar flair of Arctic Monkeys Suck It And See era, plus a violin. Have you ever heard a violin with reverb on it? We remarked on a 2020’s trend we’ve noticed of a lot of bands embracing noise, being unafraid of feedback, dissonance, and intentionally leaning into the chaos of loudness. With both bass and violin being strong melodic anchors, this band put forward one of the fullest, most cinematic sounds we can remember.
The first thing we noticed about North Carolina's Camisole was the lead singer's vape lying on the stage floor. It bothered us quite a bit because it seemed they were an inch away from stepping on it over a dozen times. In knee high boots with a 4 inch heel, we imagined a Looney Tunes magnitude slip and fall. That’s what makes rock exhilarating though, danger. For us they conjured up early Paramore vibes, songs sounded like satisfying revenge. In another era, Camisole would be headlining the first-wave warped tour circuit. Powerful, riffy, soaring. Check out their new single WAKE UP and hear for yourself.
Shouts out to Samsara for hustling, we probably ended up at this gig because their Instagram promo ads wormed themselves into our tiny brain during the week's infinite scroll. Dressed all in black with a custom light setup, they curated a visual mood that matched the drama of their music. We’re itching to make a Kings of Leon comparison, but only partly because of the sound. Mostly the vibe, we couldn’t always make out the lyrics but their songs had the weight of yearning and desire, of pouring one's heart out. Their most recent album, January's whatever helps you sleep at night, showcases this passionate atmosphere.
Whenever we’re at Night Club 101 we marvel at how different it is from its former iteration as The Pyramid Club. But we also noticed that it’s settling into itself. The M&M green paint of the disco corner is peeling in places, on the walls and the floor, revealing the layers of the Pyramid Club below. A spot or two of graffiti is present. The city is starting to leave its mark, and it feels good. If you missed this gig we feel sorry for you. Connect with Don’t Tell Iris, Camisole, and Samsara on their socials and maybe you’ll make the next gig. See you around, Rrrat Pack.
| Keywords: | New York City | Night Club 101 | Samsara | Camisole | Don't Tell Iris |
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