prinze george performs at songbyrd music house
BY EJ JOLLYFormed more than a decade ago in Prince George’s County, Maryland, local favorite Prinze George threw an album release party for their upcoming project "Better Girl" at Songbyrd Music House on April 7th. In addition to core duo Kenny Grimm & Naomi Almquist, this show also welcomed back drummer Isabelle De Leon, who hadn't played with the band since the pandemic. Fellow DMV area pop group Mystery Friends kicked off the night, showcasing their recently released sophomore album and setting the mood for an evening of heartfelt melodies.
The newly reunited trio dove straight into the full "Better Girl" tracklist, with Naomi encouraging fans to record any unreleased songs they liked. (The album is slated for a few months from now, so we'll need to be patient just a little bit longer to hear them again!) She described this collection of songs as their “sad album”, though the vibe struck me as more bittersweet. After over a decade of Prinze George, it's easy to hear the evolution of their sound and the passage of time has affected them. In tracks like "Smackdown" and "Better Girl" the synths from their past take a back seat for a more grounded approach, focusing instead on acoustic guitar and bass melodies. Naomi’s voice has also taken on a mature tone that marries perfectly with the more down to earth lyrics.
But if you're more of a fan of their previous synth pop era, don't worry: they're definitely a group that will never forget where they came from. Catch Prinze George on their upcoming summer tour through the Midwest and East Coast US, from July 12th through July 20th.
