By Chyrisse Tabone and Wendy Hunter – Rock At Night Tampa
Live Review: Delilah Bon with tiLLie – Deaf Institute, Manchester, UK – November 14, 2024
Back in July 2015, Rock At Night had the pleasure of interviewing a young, up-and-coming, feisty singer/songwriter and her band in the heart of Camden, London. She and her bandmates perched on a wooden picnic table, sharing stories of their beginnings as her mother and manager Helen cautiously observed. During the gig, the shy and soft-spoken Yorkshire teen would transform into a riot-grrl punk in the band Hands Off Gretel. The young female is none other than Lauren Tate, who came into her own after being a YouTube sensation singing covers of Led Zepp and Janis Joplin with the skill and sultriness of someone beyond her years.
Rock At Night supported Hands Off Gretel for years by publishing live performances and music reviews. It was interesting to see the artist evolve. I was in awe of her talent, as she is the total package. Tate created all the album artwork, merch designs, and slick videos with professionalism and savvy. This artist was no ordinary DIY but a marketing and creative machine.
Fast-forward to the Pandemic, the band’s tour was canceled, and Tate began dabbling in hip-hop, nu-metal, and rap. The genre-bending, self-proclaimed ‘brat punk’ pseudonym Delilah Bon emerged from this universally bleak period. Like Cardi B, she released her brand of female empowerment-themed music through a self-titled and recent album, Evil, Hate-Filled Female. Like Lady Gaga, she embraces feminism and LGBT rights, and uses her voice as a call to action. Interestingly, Tate has been vocal about issues related to American politics, including “my body, my choice,” sexism, and sexual abuse (she has a song entitled “Epstein”).
Fast forward to November 14, 2024, Rock At Night caught up with the band as Delilah Bon headlined at the Deaf Institute in Manchester, UK. Having just left the States on the tail end of the election, a little female empowerment was exactly what we needed. When we arrived at the venue in the heart of the Manchester Metropolitan University Campus, we immediately noticed the Victorian-era wallpaper that lined the walls along the staircase. The floor near the stage was packed with mostly young women, a bustling merch area, and a concert in progress. An American artist known as tiLLie (yes, she capitalizes LL’s and follows the same mixed letter trend in her song titles) spoke to the audience on stage about toxic masculinity and feminist issues. After belting the song “bLeSs uR hEaRt,” we knew she was from The South.
The audience was warmed and ready for Delilah Bon. Flanked by Hela, a female dancer/vocalist and hype person, bassist Ruena, and a male drummer (sorry, his name is unknown), Tate wore a plaid school-girl mini skirt with the initials “EHFF” pinned to the top. She and the band members danced, gyrated, and performed a visually exciting and inspirational show. The crowd knew every rap lyric and danced, albeit challenging, as the room was quite full. The headbanging, inspiring lyrics hit a chord with us, especially “Chiquitita,” which was ‘dedicated to all the older women who should have divorced their husbands.’
Lots of fun props made the concert entertaining as dancer Hela emerged wearing an inflatable strap-on penis, and the band members dressed as cops while shining a flashlight. Tate reminded the crowd that she could freely express herself in music since she is an “independent artist.”
The show was cathartic as many screamed and cheered. Bassist Ruena held the rear of her bass over her head, saying, “We will not be silenced.” This message spoke loudly and clearly to this UK audience—but resonated deeply with us American women that night.
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I grew up in a household full of rock music, studied journalism in college, and then became a scientist.Although my science career has served me well, music has always played a major role in my life. I grew up reading "Creem" magazine; I play several musical instruments as a "hobby";and it seems a camera has always been in my hand. Now, I am combining what I love the most--music and photography--serving as editor of Rock At Night. I travel between the US and UK seeking my dream! My motto: life is short...no regrets. Chyrisse
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