In the upstairs auditorium of a renovated elementary school, where school assemblies once echoed with childhood chatter, flag salutes, and student recitals, a different kind of lesson was in session on Wednesday, July 16th. At Assembly in Kingston, the classroom was transformed into a veritable school of rock, with White Denim at the helm, conducting an unforgettable sonic lecture that blurred the lines between chaos and control, soul and psychedelia, past and future.
An all-around evening of musical education, the night’s syllabus also featured compelling performances by local songwriter Sarah La Puerta and Brazilian avant-garde outfit Tagua Tagua. No matter your alma mater, summer school never sounded so sweet.
Opening the night with modesty and charm, Troy-native Sarah La Puerta quietly took the stage, joking that she only had 20 minutes, or “enough time to decide if you like me or not,” she said with a grin. But it didn’t take nearly that long. Starting with “Tangerine and Yellow,” La Puerta’s surreal, synth-tinged pop washed over the small but attentive crowd with grace and emotional depth. Her poignant lyrics on “A Gun” drew the audience in closer, while the unreleased “Déjà Vu” revealed a deeper, more experimental edge. Songs like “Heaven’s Door” and “Think Twice” continued to build momentum, and by the time she closed with a mesmerizing rearrangement of the Beach Boys’ “Don’t Worry Baby,” the room was squarely in her corner. If 20 minutes was the test, La Puerta passed with flying colors.
Next up was something entirely different. São Paulo-based Tagua Tagua, led by guitarist and vocalist Felipe Puperi, making their Kingston debut as part of their first U.S. tour. Bursting onto the stage with radiant energy and vibrant style, they launched into “2016” and never let up. Puperi, previously of the band Wannabe Jalva (with credits that include playing Lollapalooza Brazil and support slots for Pearl Jam and Jack White), commanded attention with infectious charm. Despite the language barrier, their soulful grooves, tight musicianship, and kaleidoscopic visuals transcended borders. Highlights included “Peixe Voador,” “Brisa,” and “Química,” culminating with fan-ready standouts “Lado a Lado” and “Rastro de Pó.” It was a reminder that wherever it comes from, great rock music is a universal language.
When it came time for White Denim, there was no dramatic entrance. Around 9:30 p.m., the band casually took the stage and began setting up their own gear. “Should we just start?” asked frontman James Petralli. “I think now’s about as good a time as any.” And just like that, class was in session. Launching into the punchy “Pretty Green” and “Light On,” the lead track from their 2024 LP 12, the energy in the room surged. Whether due to the music or late arrivals finally flooding in, the crowd seemed to triple in size by the end of the second song as word spread that something special was happening. And it was. The band responded in kind, shifting into high gear with “Anvil Everything” and “Sky Beaming,” followed by a hard-charging “Hallelujah Strike Gold.”
Originally formed in Austin, Texas in the mid-2000s, White Denim has evolved into one of indie rock’s most respected and adventurous live acts. The band’s blend of garage rock, jazz fusion, soul, and Southern psychedelia has earned them a devoted fanbase and critical acclaim across their 12 studio albums. At the creative core is James Petralli, a genre-shifting force of nature whose songwriting, guitar work, and powerhouse vocals anchor the band’s ever-changing lineup and kaleidoscopic sound. With recent years seeing Petralli relocate to Los Angeles and expand his work as a producer, White Denim’s longevity and continued innovation stand as a testament to his drive and vision. Along with Petralli, this iteration of White Denim also features Cat Clemons on guitar, drummer Matt Young, Dan Hyman on bass, and keyboard wizard Michael Hunter and is as tight and dynamic as ever.
Fans of White Denim’s 2011 breakthrough album D were treated to a deep dive, including a ferocious “Bess St.,” “River to Consider,” and the beloved slow-burner “Street Joy.” But the night’s apex may have come during the prog-heavy buildup of “At the Farm,” which segued seamlessly into one of their oldest (and heaviest) songs, “Say What You Want,” a sequence that nearly burned the whole school down.
If White Denim’s music is complex on record, live it becomes something elemental. Time signatures bent and snapped back, solos exploded from nowhere, and yet the band never lost their footing. Petralli, always an expressive and enigmatic frontman, delivered a vocal performance that was raw, soulful, and commanding. Utterly captivating with his eyes often closed and body swaying with abandon, he seemed transported by the music and had the uncanny ability to take the audience with him.
The second half of the set leaned into Corsicana Lemonade-era grooves with songs like “Come Back,” “Cheer Up / Blues Ending” and an absolutely brilliant rendition of their most streamed single “At Night in Dreams.” The remainder of the performance focused on newer material from the bands latest record 12. Showcasing tunes like the funky “Second Dimension,” the soulful “Precious Child,” and the throwback groove of “Swinging Door.” Petralli, ever the perfectionist, admitted near the end that he’d “severely misjudged” how long the setlist would take to perform. A few songs were trimmed to beat the venue’s curfew, but nobody seemed to mind as the jams had more than enough substance to fill the time.
Up against the clock, White Denim would close the night with a searing one-two punch of “Had 2 Know You (Personal) that seamlessly flowed into a fine version of “Fine Slime,” leaving the crowd sweaty, euphoric and electrified. After the show, Petralli made one fan’s birthday extra special by signing a record and posing for a selfie, a quiet gesture that spoke volumes about the band’s humility and connection with their audience. White Denim may not be a household name, but in the world of contemporary rock, they remain a benchmark. Whether you’re a diehard fan or a curious newcomer, it’s obvious they aren’t just playing rock music. They’re teaching a masterclass. And if you were lucky enough to be in that old auditorium in Kingston, you got the lesson of a lifetime.
White Denim | July 16, 2025 | Assembly | Kingston, NY
Setlist: Pretty Green, Light On, Anvil Everything, Sky Beaming, King Tears, Hallelujah Strike Gold, Bess St., Corsicana Lemonade, River to Consider, Second Dimension, Come Back, Ashley Goudeau, At Night in Dreams, At the Farm ~ Say What You Want, Street Joy, Crystal Bullets, Keep Calling Me Baby, Cheer Up / Blues Ending, Precious Child, Swinging Door, Had 2 Know (Personal), Fine Slime
Tagua Tagua | July 16, 2025 | Assembly | Kingston, NY
Setlist: 2016, Peixe Voador, Brisa, Quimica, Raio, Lado a Lado, Rastro de Po.
Sarah La Puerta | July 16, 2025 | Assembly | Kingston, NY
Setlist: Tangerine Yellow, A Gun, Déjà vu, Heavens Door, Think Twice, *Don’t Worry Baby.
*Beach Boys cover.
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