Fake Four Fetes State House

On Friday night under a full moon the New Haven-based record label Fake Four, Inc. brought a four-act bill to the State House built on friendships and a familial music community that also whipped the crowd into a frenzy. 

Indigaux, Chris Conde, Myles Bullen, and the return of Ceschi and Anonymous Inc. was a homecoming of sorts, as Ceschi (a.k.a. Julio Ramos) has been on tour as of late with his newest band, The Codefendants. Anonymous Inc. — featuring brothers Julio and David Ramos and Max Heath — had not played live in four years. It was also their last time playing at the State House, which plans to close at the end of the month.

Spirits were high and heady right from the get go with DJ Mo Niklz providing his own unique music and video mix while the crowd gathered. Hugs and handshakes were shared while De La Soul, Busta Rhymes, and Fake Four’s own Gregory Pepper echoed all around. 

First to the stage was New Haven’s own Indigaux, who had been walking through the crowd, blowing bubbles and spreading joy before their set. Deftly taking command of the stage, and the audience, from note one with their infectious beats and furiously fun lyricism, Indigaux set the tone for the party ahead, even getting a few audience members to dance along with them as they left the stage, smoke billowing around them all.

“We are in transitional phase in this city,” they said after mentioning how the venue would be closing soon. Let’s hope a more positive part of that transition is more acts like Indigaux, who elevate the energy of the room and keep it there. 

Chris Conde got the crowd even more whipped up, asking them to ​“take a New York step forward” and then asking them to ​“take a CT step forward,” which got more than a few laughs from the crowd. The always revelatory Brooklyn-based vocalist and rapper, resplendent in leather hat and harness, also bared their soul, extending themselves from moment one and encouraging everyone around them to do the same. Whether singing or rapping or offering a spoken-word piece about their sexuality and struggles with addiction, they offered a safe place for everyone to connect and remain hopeful. The audience hung on Conde’s every word, whether they asked members of the crowd to raise and wave their hands or sing along, always sending back the same love they were receiving.

“We are equal to humanity,” they said. ​‘We are never less than.”

After a song that found them sharing vocals with Ceschi, backed on vibraphone by Jane Boxall, Conde took to the floor for the song ​“Year of the Queer,” a song they said was about ​“taking back your space.”

“Be whoever you are,” they told the audience to rousing applause and support. They thanked Fake Four for always making a space for everyone to be just that. 

Myles Bullen, like DJ Mo Niklz, brought visuals to his performance, including a black and white animation-based video for ​“Swallowing Bruises” and fish swimming around, as he encouraged the audience to sing along to his anthemic ​“I Am Not For Everyone.” He reminding the crowd that ​“you do not need validation from anyone but yourself.”

Though Portland, Me.-based, this performer has developed quite the dedicated local following, his impact and endearment obvious in the ongoing and heartfelt interaction and participation he garnered throughout his set. 

Bullen also talked and sang about addiction as well as death, sharing songs not only about his late grandfather and father, but also a new song, released on that day, called ​“Ice Cream,” that he said he wrote about not wanting to die yet.

“We need to normalize talking about these things,” he said. Many nodded in agreement and cheered him on.

Anonymous Inc. — which on this night included Ceschi on guitar and vocals, David Ramos on drums and vocals, Max Heath on keys and vocals, Jane Boxall on vibraphone, Alexandra Burnet on banjo, and DJ Mo Niklz — came to the stage for the final set. By this point the audience was fully fired up.

Even when you think you know what is coming at a Ceschi show, like a favorite song, it is always done in a way that feel renewed and reviving. Even a broken guitar string during the very first song didn’t stop Ceschi as the guitar was replaced, the disruption laughed off, and the party continued. Other technical difficulties were mentioned throughout the night. It did nothing more than endear the show to its audience as the next epic placement in a long line of memorable shows. 

Selections from the band’s catalogue as well as Ceschi’s later albums, such as Broken Bone Ballads and Sad, Fat Luck, were shared, and he reminisced about that album release show which was held at this venue before performing ​“Daybreak” and the album’s title song. 

It wouldn’t be a Ceschi show without a trip or two (or three or four) into the crowd to perform. He was down there for ​“All Dogs Go to Heaven,” which found him seated on the floor and asking everyone to sit on the floor with him (which they did). Even David found his way into the crowd for the songs ​“Kurzweil” and ​“Animal Instinct,” both of which saw him come out from behind the drums to share his powerful vocals with his brother, much to the delight of the audience. 

Through song after song, banger after banger, from the crowd favorite singalong ​“Say Something” to ​“Bite Through Stone” and ​“Heaven at Your Fingertips,” the crowd went right along with Ceschi and the band for the rest of the night, doing whatever was asked of them, singing along almost to the point where he could have stopped completely and they would have sung the rest of the set list themselves (he did do this many times for brief moments). It was a testament to the community he has built, through family, friends, forever fans, and a commitment to always bringing his best. Speaking of which, he shouted out the numerous family members and friends who were there, some of them near the side of the stage and some coming up on stage, and noted many times throughout the night how there were ​“too many people to mention” to thank and honor for support throughout the years and at this last show — including State House co-owner Carlos Wells, who was also in attendance.

When it was time for the final song, he said to the audience: ​“you know what it is.” And indeed they did. ​“This Won’t Last Forever” — always the final Ceschi song, always gorgeously endearing — on this night was preceded by ​“Forever 33,” the song that precedes it on Broken Bone Ballads and calls out New Haven specifically. This final performance brought Ceschi back down into the crowd, as it typically does, with the entire audience singing along, moving along, hands raised, but on this moonlit evening it seemed even more poignant.

“This is a beautiful and sad night,” Ceschi said earlier. ​“In our dreams we hope State House opens somewhere else.”