Show Review: Wunderhorse, Been Stellar at Warsaw, NYC.
July 27th, 2026.
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Sweaty. Loud. Angst. Perfection.
July 28th, 2026
This one was long overdue. Been Stellar and Wunderhorse were set to hit the stage at Brooklyn's Warsaw last summer, but a last-minute medical issue forced Wunderhorse out. Luckily, we were able to catch Been Stellar’s pop-up at Nightclub 101, which was a real treat now that the group is touring the country and playing festivals overseas. Still, British rockers Wunderhorse’s famous sweat-drenched, give-it-all-you-got-and-then-more approach to live shows was something I didn’t want to miss this time around.
When this show was announced as a makeup for last summer’s cancellation, tickets at Brooklyn’s Warsaw sold out immediately. I was bummed but wasn’t surprised. When I woke up Monday morning I saw the show was still etched into my calendar, and was somehow able to snag pretty cheap resale tickets for night one of the two evening, back-to-back series. After seeing Been Stellar live last year, they catapulted into one of my favorite young bands, and I was amped to see them again with a newfound appreciation.
The NYC-based Been Stellar’s pop-up at Nightclub 101 are always a big draw when they hit the city, and it serves them right. They have the seasoned on-stage swagger, the diverse body of work, and the clean, tight live performance that makes them a real force. Singer Sam Slocum shouted out all their friends in the crowd before bursting into their track Kids 1995, a quintessential alternative-scene track that much of the audience knew word-for-word. My personal favorite was their performance I Have the Answer, which featured guitarist Skyler Knapp pounding on the distorted opening chord for about 30 seconds before the rest of the band kicked in on the enigmatic, emotional track.
I’d seen clips of Wunderhorse playing live for years now and it’s been a goal to see Jacob Slater pour his heart out in person. He did not let me down. With the room feeling like a hundred degrees, the band literally poured sweat as they bounced between songs from Cub and Midas. They played two new tracks, Promises and Kerosene, with the latter being a fiery, punk-esque tune that may signal a newer direction for the group’s next album. Undoubtedly, Teal was the crowd-favorite — as soon as Slater played the opening riff, people were screaming their heads off. The band’s simple, yet highly poetic approach to songwriting will keep them a cult gem for years to come.
I got what I came for: raw, energetic alternative rock. I did not expect to lose five pounds in sweat (we gotta do better Warsaw), but I guess it adds to the allure of it all. The two bands played at Warsaw again Tuesday night, and Wunderhorse will continue their North American tour (including Lollapalooza) over the next week before heading back overseas.
| Keywords: | New York City | Warsaw | Wunderhorse | Been Stellar |
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