There is a lot to admire about Devonte Hynes aka Blood Orange, but his stage act isn't one of them.
Devonte Hynes is the 20 something vet who started life in started super hip noise poppers Test Icicles, before writing songs for the likes of Solange Knowles and Florence Welch before buying himself a keyboard and an electric guitar and a group name. The Florence connect is one reason he got the plumb opening for Florence gig at radio City last Wednesday. The other reason is simpler, chillwave schillwave, the man can write songs.
From my mid Hall seats, Blood Orange failed to do much visually, besides twiddle knobs, spank his synth and play electric guitar to his back up tapes. But his songs are so great, he still managed to impress with. completely new to me, songs off last years Coastal Grooves floored me. Sweet beats and chill keyboards over his sweet vocals, and a sort of indie pop via shoegaze vibe were there but needed to sell a minor masterpiece like "Sutphin Blvd" or a major song like "Champagne Coast" -a song so good it might well have been the single best moment of the entire evening.
That said, if Blood Orange is serious, he needs a touring band. there is something too pre-programmed in his music and, at least in Radio City, he doesn't project at all.
Grade: B+