WINGTIPS, Ronnie Stone - 11/14/24 - Fresno, CA

11/14/24 - Strummer's

Judging by the photo used to promote them, and their description as an 'electro pop duo', you could understandably go into a WINGTIPS show expecting to hear echoes of The Cure. Which is exactly what I did. But what I saw last night at Strummer's was so, so much more than The Cure (and I really, really like The Cure). I saw aspects that I love from various genres of music pulled together and combined in an infatuating way. A driving, unstoppable dance beat. Crunchy, distorted guitar. Melodic, soaring synths. All of it was intoxicatingly layered together to result in a rich, deep, exciting, enchanting, and incredibly fun sound. The same song would at various points make me think of Carpenter Brut, The War on Drugs, Nine Inch Nails, New Order, and, yes, The Cure.

WINGTIPS is made up of Vincent Segratario (vocals, guitar) and Hannah Avalon (vocals, drums, synths/keys). However if you close your eyes, you can easily imagine that there are many more musicians on stage, such was the depth and power of their sound. Segratario is the main vocalist and also played guitar on most songs. Avalon spent the majority of the show as a one woman rhythm section, and then she picked up the microphone to sing with a truly beautiful voice. Both members were fully enmeshed in their music, seemingly in a trance at times while the notes took control of their bodies, sending Segratario, gifted with freedom of movement by virtue of playing guitar, back and forth across the stage as if he was being carried by a large, undulating wave while Avalon was dutifully confined to worry free dancing at her station between the drums and keys. Although the crowd in attendance was sparse, maxing out at around 20 people, Segretario and Avalon delivered a performance worthy of thousands.

I have seen dozens and dozens and dozens of live shows this year, and WINGTIPS put on one of the very best. I am shocked I have not heard of them before and even more shocked that they don't have a larger following. They made a huge fan last night and I am hopeful that they'll get their big break soon and go onto bigger and better things, and one day I can look back in amazement at this show.

Supporting act Ronnie Stone was also a lot of fun, bringing a very '80s vibe to the venue. Dressed in a trenchcoat, leather pants, and sunglasses with a handlebar moustache and mullett, he had the appearance of Neo from The Matrix mixed with Billy Idol mixed with an anime character, and that is meant as a compliment and not an insult. He sounded like he was from the '80s, he looked like he was from the '80s, and he even danced like he was from the '80s.