BNNY, Briston Maroney and Peach Pit
Pier 17 // New York, NY // May 23, 2025
Photos and review by Jess Williams
On the evening of Friday, May 23, the Rooftop at Pier 17 in Lower Manhattan was alive with the full spirit of spring. A dreamy mix of rain clouds and warm sunlight hovered above a steadily growing crowd, while the golden hour cast a soft glow over the surrounding skyscrapers. The “Long Hair, Long Life” tour—featuring Briston Maroney and Peach Pit with support from Bnny—rolled into New York City for the second of two sold-out rooftop shows.
BNNY
Kicking things off just as the sun broke through the clouds were Chicago-based indie rockers Bnny. Their 40-minute set served as the perfect atmospheric soundtrack for concertgoers settling in, their dreamy, lo-fi rock sound easing the crowd into the night ahead.
Following a quick stage change, the anticipation for the evening’s headliners was palpable. Then, as if on cue, a double rainbow appeared in the sky over Brooklyn, eliciting gasps and a flurry of raised phones as fans scrambled to capture the unexpected beauty stretched above the Brooklyn Bridge. It felt like a sign: the night was going to be something special.
Briston Maroney
Moments later, Tennessee-based musician Briston Maroney took the stage, launching straight into “Real Good Swimmer” from his newly released album JIMMY. Maroney’s music—a fusion of rock, folk, and Americana—is known for its raw emotion, introspective lyricism, and the delicate balance of grit and vulnerability. As his set neared its close, Maroney paused to connect with the crowd.
“It’s important to go out there and be someone that makes people feel like they can be themselves around you,” he shared, before closing with the fan-favorite “Freaking Out On The Interstate.”
Having first seen Maroney perform a midday set at Firefly Music Festival three years ago, it was deeply rewarding to witness his evolution—both as an artist and a person. In that time, he’s gained confidence and explored new creative territory, and JIMMY is proof of that artistic growth.
Peach Pit
For the final set of the evening, Canadian indie rockers Peach Pit stepped onto the stage clad in matching medieval-inspired outfits—just the kind of quirky charm their fans have come to love. They opened their set with a bold cover of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” before diving headfirst into their own catalog with “Magpie” and the crowd-pleasing “Drop the Guillotine.”
The rooftop buzzed with energy. Up front, die-hard fans reached out for fleeting moments of connection with the band, while farther back, pockets of revelers turned the venue into their own open-air dance floor.
Peach Pit describes their sound as “chewed bubblegum pop,” a fitting description of their blend of playful melodies and reflective lyricism. Their live performance mirrored that ethos—unserious in the most serious way. The joy they shared onstage was infectious, and watching them have genuine fun performing together made the experience all the more memorable.
Though a light drizzle persisted through most of the night, it did little to dampen the spirit of the show. Both headliners delivered high-energy, heartfelt sets that transformed a rainy Manhattan evening into something unforgettable—an electrifying celebration of connection, music, and good vibes.
