is waif
IS HALF WAIF WAIF?
I attended the Half Waif concert in Brooklyn last week with only one question in mind: is Half Waif waif? My friend and I arrived at 8, just in time for the Half Waif’s set at 9:50. So We went upstairs for a drink. My friend orders an Old Fashioned which the bartender pours out of a small glass bottle and into a plastic glass, tops with soda water and a lime to garnish. Pretty newfangled for an Old Fashioned. I order a gin and soda. ($22, before gratuity)
Since we have two hours to kill, we tuck into a side room and grab a piece of birthday cake from an unattended table. There’s no one around, but music blaring and continuous video of two blond boys wrestledancing in the grass on a flatscreen TV in the corner.
Where is the Half Waif?
We keep seeing people with what we think to be the vibe of the Half Waif, but they never were the Half Waif. We play Fuck Marry Kill to pass the time. Helen Mirren. Helen of Troy. Troye Sivan. Pretty obvious.
Two hours later, we head back downstairs to catch the Half Waif in action.
BECOME A WAIF
"We play Fuck Marry Kill to pass the time. Helen Mirren. Helen of Troy. Troye Sivan. Pretty obvious."
I was unfamiliar with the music of the Half Waif, so I had no sense of anticipation or expectation for what the Half Waif would sound like.
Then, the Half Waif emerged in a black lace dress with sharp shoulder pads ($99, Zara). After 40 minutes, her backup band never came out, they just played backstage I guess. Probably because, as the Half Waif explained, she had an upper respiratory disease. She had been on bedrest for 4 days - interesting. Her press agent said she was too busy for an interview.
Disregarding any and all of that, I was impressed by the performance the Half Waif gave. She sang about how she feels, longing to be back in Brooklyn, neatly juxtaposed by the fact that she was actually, physically back in Brooklyn. Waking up and preparing tea and coffee so that whoever keeps the Half Waif company knows that the Half Waif can provide. The Half Waif plays a number of upbeat tunes as well, because the Half Waif knows Waifs like to dance. She herself likes to dance too; she thrashes about, moving as much as she can without losing sight of her microphone or keyboard - she is a musician after all.
The Half Waif ends her set sooner than I’d like, but it’s late and I’d already been there for 3 hours, so I’m grateful. I thank the Half Waif for her performance and head out. My friend tells me she feels like her body is disintegrating so I take her to a neighboring taco truck.
We both were very impressed by the Half Waif, but still, it begs the question: is Half Waif waif?
The verdict: No. The Half Waif is not waif. The Half Waif never has her tongue in her cheek. The Half Waif means what she says, through and through. The Half Waif is, in fact, only half waif.