Marc E. Bassy Turns City Winery Into His Living Room
- Miranda Wyman
- 6 hours ago
- 4 min read
There are concerts, and then there are experiences. Marc E. Bassy's performance at City Winery in New York City felt much more like the latter.
Article and Photography Contributed by Miranda Wyman.
Marc E. Bassy brought his tour to City Winery in New York City on Saturday, May 31st, and it was unlike any concert we’ve been to before. City Winery's 350-seat room combines live music with a unique dining experience. Guests ordered drinks and food throughout the show while seated at tables, creating an atmosphere that felt more like a cozy restaurant gathering than just another concert. By the time Bassy took the stage, nearly every seat in the venue had been filled.
What made the night especially unique was how stripped-down and personal it felt. There wasn’t a flashy entrance or any opening act. Instead, Marc E. Bassy casually walked onto the stage alongside his drummer and keyboard player, introducing himself as if he were welcoming friends into his living room. He opened with "Some Kind of Drug," his feature on G-Eazy's 2015 album When It's Dark Out, before performing "Just My Luck" and "Drunk & I'm Drunk." After the opening three songs, he welcomed everyone to City Winery and immediately leaned into the atmosphere, joking about how close everyone was and asking if anyone had any questions. Throughout the night, audience interaction became a major part of the show, with Bassy often pausing between songs to tell stories and chat with fans.
The set continued with songs including "XX," "Lock It Up," "Paper Paper," "Slide," "Dirty Water", and "Plot Twist". Before performing "Lock It Up," he gave a shoutout to fellow Bay Area artist Kehlani. Between songs, Bassy reflected on his career and his time living in New York City from 2011 to 2014, calling it one of the most fun places in the world. He opened up about a failed band he was once part of and how he eventually shifted his focus to writing songs for artists such as Charlie Puth and CeeLo Green. He explained that his career changed when he wrote a song that felt too personal to give away to someone else. That song was "You & Me." The crowd erupted when he began performing the hit track. Afterward, a fan shouted, "Where's G-Eazy?" Bassy quickly replied, "He's in Greece," before joking, "I hope you didn't come all the way here for G-Eazy."
One thing nobody saw coming was Bassy revealing that he had teamed up with City Winery to create his own custom red wine. The bottle sat on stage all night, and both Bassy and his bandmates kept pouring glasses throughout the show. The bottle sat on stage throughout the show, and both Bassy and his bandmates enjoyed glasses of it throughout the night, adding to the relaxed atmosphere.
From there, the show slowed down for an acoustic set that included "Coffee," "Express My Love," "Morning Mercy," "Having Fun," "God Dam," and "Barbados." The stripped-down performances matched the venue's laid-back vibe. Following "Barbados," he spoke about moving from Los Angeles back to his hometown of San Francisco before introducing two unreleased songs, "Are You In" and "Tides." Before performing them, he jokingly encouraged everyone to take out their phones and post the songs on TikTok. He also told the audience that "Tides" might be the best song he has ever written. He jokingly added that this song hasn’t even been recorded yet, and this was seriously the first time ever performed.
After "Tides," Bassy thanked the audience for coming and walked off stage. It didn't take long for chants of "encore" to fill the room, and within a few moments, he returned to the stage with his bandmates. For the encore, he performed "Morning" and invited everyone to leave their seats and gather as close to the stage as possible. Fans quickly crowded the front of the room, creating one final intimate moment between artist and audience.
The connection between Bassy and his fans didn't end when the music stopped. After the show, he came down to the floor to greet concertgoers, taking photos and spending time talking with anyone who wanted to meet him. It was the perfect ending to a night that never felt like a typical concert. Instead, it felt like Bassy had invited 350 people into his living room for an evening of music, stories, and conversation. From answering questions throughout the show to personally meeting fans afterward, he made everyone feel like part of the experience. Between the stories, audience interaction, and the chance to meet him after the show, the night felt less like a concert and more like hanging out with an old friend who happened to be performing. For anyone lucky enough to be Marc E. Bassy’s show at City Winery, it was a show they won't forget anytime soon.
