Indie-folk duo The Army, The Navy celebrated the release of their debut full-length album, Fake Brave Life, with an intimate performance at New York City’s Rough Trade Below on Wednesday, June 17. With a sold-out crowd filling the iconic record store’s lower level, the two childhood friends performed a set of ten songs, both old and new, directly for their biggest supporters.
Duo Maia Ciambriello and Sasha Goldberg have been friends for ages, and it shows. As children, they lived in the same hometown and even acted in school plays together. Years later, the two reconnected through a shared vocal coach, and attended Loyola University to study music. Becoming roommates and musical collaborators, Ciambriello and Goldberg crafted The Army, The Navy naturally by working as a pair. Their signature sound blends two soft voices into one as they harmonize and sing back-to-back verses. But between songs, their true personalities shine – the duo piggyback off each other as excitable friends, riffing humorous jokes and retelling stories in the most endearing, personable way.
The crowd was equally welcomed into this friendship space. Bringing along their own friends, fans embraced the intimate nature of Rough Trade Below and joined others in conversation before the acoustic set began. Bonding over their favorite songs, past shows, and The Army, The Navy lore, fans became fast friends pre-show.
From the moment Ciambriello and Goldberg entered the small stage, fan excitement rose tenfold with claps and screams erupting in the otherwise quiet shop. The two appeared shocked by the warm welcome, even mentioning that they were nervous on quite a few occasions. The duo fought through their anxieties during the intimate show as a unit, often looking at each other and familiar fans between verses with a supportive smile. However, once The Army, The Navy began their Rough Trade performance, a palpable excitement to debut new music grew in place of their previous nerves.
Their set began with “Walls,” a beautifully arranged acoustic song that explores the aftermath of a controlling relationship. Lyrically, the duo depict this journey of reclaiming self-worth and mental space as if it was physical space, like a house. Ciambriello and Goldberg demonstrate their signature overlapped vocals within a repeated refrain, affirming the notion that half-hearted love isn’t enough for them. The lyrical exploration of contemplative, post-breakup thought processes paired with their live, ethereal vocals and finger-plucked acoustic instrumentation made for a beautiful set-starter.
An older song by the duo, “Vienna (In Memoriam),” captivated their audience due to the story behind its poetic lyrics. Dutifully retold to the crowd by a hand-chosen fan, the single off their 2024 EP Fruit For Flies explores the life and death of a rat in Ciambriello’s and Goldberg’s New Orleans home. While living together, the two were greeted with an uninvited guest – a rat they named Bratwurst. Bratwurst proceeded to give the duo another roommate – a baby rat they called Vienna Sausage. After being attacked by the duo’s cat, poor Vienna was put down by a friend with a brick from their front stoop. The song’s authentic storytelling paired with an analogical perspective on death, guilt and grief in society make it a prime example of the duo’s songwriting prowess.
The night ended with “Fake Brave,” the final song off of Fake Brave Life. Fans lit up the record store with white finger lights which were handed out at the beginning of the set. Experiencing new moments can be nerve-wracking for anyone – proven true by the duo’s vulnerability when debuting their new songs at Rough Trade Below. “Fake Brave” embraces working through fear to find true confidence, and The Army, The Navy is doing just that within their debut album.
After the set, the duo continued the evening with a signing event for all of the fans in attendance. The Army, The Navy is hitting the road in the fall for The Fake Brave Tour, and will be coming back to New York on October 28 for a night at Warsaw in Brooklyn. Tickets are available now on The Army, The Navy’s official website.
The Army, The Navy – Rough Trade Below – June 17, 2026
Setlist: Walls, Stars Stay Awake, Moody, A Gift, Dirty Laundry, 2 Collide, Persimmon, Vienna (In Memoriam) Down Debbie/Reservoir, Fake Brave
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