The music scene today is filled with intense gloom regarding DIY startups and even the failings of larger musicians. “Blue dot fever” seeming to spread amongst acts that some would consider too big to fail. But despite that, an enigmatic Irish singer songwriter named Dove Ellis just sold out two nights at the legendary Bowery Ballroom with only one LP under his name. How does that happen?
My explanation is that there is magic surrounding the venue called the “Windmill Brixton” located in London. Some of the most beloved indie bands of the 2020s had their start at this venue such as: Black Country, New Road (stylized with a comma), Black Midi and Squid. In 2026, Dove Ellis seems to have joined this lineage. Although his music career is very young, his promise evident through incredible performances. He signed on to be represented by the booking agency Pure who scored him an opening slot for the biggest viral indie sensation of last year, Geese.
With all this context, I hope you can understand how a group of brain-rotted youth (like myself) were put onto a guy who has no flashy advertising or easy hook besides simply listening to his music.
The show starts with Dove Ellis and his band coming on stage silently. No banter or proper intro, the band is simply cued in by the drummer as they all hold a nervous, tense note. Then the man starts singing. Hearing Dove Ellis for the first time is what I imagine it was like for onlookers at the Sin-é coffee bar seeing Jeff Buckley for the first time. His voice is so stirring and his words are so illustrative that they paint his passion all over your heart with a grace not many artists have. Although this was not my first time seeing him, I pray that those reading this will heed my recommendation to see him next time he comes stateside and share a similar experience to my description.
Although Dove Ellis is touring his LP, Blizzard, he makes the decision to open the show with an unreleased track. It’s definitely a bold decision but pays off both for fans and newcomers alike. It showcases his flowing song structures, loose chemistry with the band and of course his vocal chops. The song is called “The Royal Brown Hole” and it feels almost like an overture for all the styles you will experience during the evening. Following this comes one of his most popular songs, the track “Pale Song.” The sax player, Fred Donlon-Mansbridge, sets the tone with this strange, glitchy drone that pops up a lot on the album. The song eventually kicks off with this moody indie chord progression that hits the brain just right. The song is short but has its moments that hit just right like the line in the chorus: “cry it loud / silent boy” that paint this picture of pain accruing over time so well.
As the evening goes on, Dove Ellis presents shifting tones that keeps the audience on their toes. “2 Brothers Smoking” is another unreleased track that is more reminiscent of that groovy strain of 2020s post-punk that Squid and early Geese found themselves in. Following that is what maybe Dove Ellis’ most dramatic track “When You Tie Your Hair Up.” The slow, plodding pace is reminiscent of something akin to the late D’Angelo but explodes with the level of something closer to an epic post-rock track. Things heat up on the third unreleased track of the night “DODOOODOO” which feels like a dramatic, Nina Simone inspired ballad.
After this point, Ellis focuses on deeper cuts from his album which turn the temperature in the room down with yearning that only the coldest winter nights can contain. “Feathers, Cash” offers the slowest, plodding tempo of the whole night with a rare moment of connection where the band claps in two groups of three right before the final chorus. One of the strangest moments of the whole night occurred during “Heaven Has No Wings” right after the intro. Dove Ellis pauses and grabs his phone off the floor which seems to have had a piece broken off of it. The band improvises for a little bit as he anxiously places his phone on top of his amp and returns to the piano right on time.
The last two songs before the encore were two of his most popular songs, “Love Is” and “To the Sandals.” The former is a song that many cite as their reason for engaging with his music and it is not hard to see why when the whole band kicks in. The way the chorus soars during the refrain “Love is not the antidote to all your problems” is something that will inspire the masses. I hope I am quoted here because I believe a film in the near future will use this song in a trailer for an incredibly earnest romantic drama. The latter, “To The Sandals,” ebbs and flows with the passionate performances featured all night. What makes this song special is this repeated motif that is reminiscent of Pink Floyd’s “Fearless.”
The band left the stage but Dove Ellis soon returned for a double encore. The first song was an unreleased piano ballad called “Nest Among Stars.” Following the beautiful dramatics, he brought out both his band and the opener, Mary In The Junkyard, for a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door.” It was sweet and fun and a great way to cap off a good night.
If you are at all interested in finding something new, to find music that rouses the soul, Dove Ellis is the artist you should look out for. His studio recordings do him justice but seeing him live is unlike anything else. Next time he swings by the NY area, make sure to check out this rising talent.
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