Velvet Rouge kicked off the weekend with a bang at Free At Noon

Let’s face it – the midday slump is real, especially on Fridays. Luckily for the Free At Noon crowd, Velvet Rouge brought passion and energy to their set, lifting the crowd out of their slumps and boosting them into the weekend.

When not playing her (bright red!) guitar, frontwoman Gina Zo was dancing around the stage, shaking her head, falling to her knees, and rocking out on all accounts. It can be a cheesy move if the music doesn’t match the theatrics, but the rest of Velvet Rouge brought an intensity on par with Zo for a riveting set.

Founded by Zo after her appearance on NBC’s The Voice, Velvet Rouge released their debut, self-titled EP in July. Their Free At Noon debut featured songs from the new EP, as well as some older singles, catering to existing fans, and picking up some new ones along the way.

While most of the songs were fast-paced and full of energy, the band shifted gears about halfway through the set to play a few subdued tracks. “15th Street” was a slow-burning song that grew from a soft, twangy beat into a rousing crash. Similarly, “When Did I Become” built into a wave of crashing instruments and vocals before dropping down to a simmering finish. Zo’s vocals were nothing if not versatile, sounding just as strong with a country twang as in her fierce rock and roll screams.

Zo was full of joy as she shared her appreciation for XPN throughout the set. “I can’t tell you how many times I emailed [XPN] when I was 16 asking to play this stage, and we’re so happy to be here!”

We’re even happier to welcome Velvet Rouge back for XPN’s XPoNential Music Festival in two weeks on September 20, when they’ll kick off the weekend. Check out the set times, and don’t forget to grab your tickets for the fest at xpnfest.org. We’ll see you there!