Written By emily spins it
In anticipation of their album release, duo Mia x Ally performed at the historic Gramercy Theater in New York on October 26. Electric violinist Mia Asano and bagpiper/multi-instrumentalist Ally the Piper met on TikTok before officially joining forces in 2022. Asano is a classically trained violinist, and graduated from Berklee College of Music in August 2022, while Ally is a recognized competitive bagpiper. Together, the two combine their traditional beginnings and turn it into something completely new and modern – rock, metal, and pop with a Celtic twist. They released their debut album, Mia x Ally: The Viral Hits, on October 27.
It’s clear from the start of the show that Asano & Ally are totally in sync. From their unified aesthetic to the way they almost chase each other around on stage as they play, the audience can feel the connection between the two. They also make a point to include their drummer (Dominic Marraffa) and guitar player (Dov Beck-Levine) in their family unit, down to Marraffa wearing a custom jersey to match with their costumes. The show was high energy from start to finish, with impactful lighting choices and powerful playing. When they weren’t playing, the setlist was peppered with fun bits and meaningful speeches which created an intimate atmosphere between the band and the audience. They made the most of the space, putting their stamp on the Gramercy Theater.
Mia x Ally kicks off the show with three tracks from their album: “Shipping Up to Boston,” the theme from “Fairy Tail,” and “Iridium.” Using the Dropkick Murphy’s classic hit as the opener was a strong choice. It’s high energy, recognizable, and set the tone for the rest of the night. The special dynamic between Mia and Ally flows seamlessly into their music. They alternate which voice plays a supporting role and which is allowed to soar above, creating something beautiful and overwhelming. Whether it’s longer notes or quick runs, the technical skill on both violin and bagpipes is astonishing. They round out the first group of covers with their rendition of the “Game of Thrones” theme. This track is not on the album, but it was one of their first releases together on TikTok. It’s a sweet homage to their earlier days, giving the audience a peek into the beginnings of the relationship.
Despite rising to fame with fan-favorite covers, both musicians also write and arrange their own songs. Ally goes first, treating fans to two originals, “Lancaster” & “Faye’s.” The two were based off of pieces she learned when competing, and they are dedicated to her dogs. Since these are not on the duo’s album, it is a special moment for the audience to get a glimpse into Ally’s work on the bagpipes and hear how she expertly fits a traditional instrument in with modern drumbeats to produce something fresh. After Ally, Asano takes center stage with a piece she composed with professors at Berklee. Ally supports the track, named “Lunar,” by switching to a whistle. Asano takes full advantage of this time in the spotlight, demonstrating her wide breadth of skills. Long, held out notes provide a foundation, but her quick runs are a whirlpool of sound, drowning the listeners in something glittery and surreal. Guitar and drums are present for all three of the tracks, providing a canvas for Ally and Asano to create their soundscapes.
After introducing the audience to their original work, they return to the covers that built Mia x Ally in the first place. The band starts with a rousing rendition of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” theme, and then Marraffa and Beck-Levine exit as Asano and Ally introduce a medley of covers. The medley includes some of their TikTok favorites, including “Wellerman’s Sea Shanty,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and “Long Way to the Top” just to name a few. The band is then invited back on stage, and the two frontwomen treat the audience to a bit where they try to play each other’s instruments. All things considered; they did a decent job! But they switched back, gave Asano a light saber bow, and dove into a mix of the “Halo” theme and “Duel of the Fates.” They credited Cullen Vance for producing this combo for them. Act I closes out with another track from their album, “Roundtable Rival.” Bringing back the high energy, the band clearly has a lot of fun with this track. Asano and Ally dance and jump around the stage, headbanging their way to intermission.
Act II promises a return to their more Celtic Metal roots, starting off with another original by Ally. This track, “Megalodon,” has a more instrumental feel, and Asano’s violin starts to sound more like a fiddle. Without breaking, they move on to their next track from the album, “Cliffs of Dover.” Ally takes the focus here, with Asano providing a foundation that allows for the bagpipes to flit around. Once again, the duo’s connection is palpable to the audience. Following the cover, Asano breaks out another original, this time named “Labyrinth.” She laughs that the track is dedicated to Taylor Swift, as she also has a track named “Labyrinth” and the re-release of 1989 is the same day as their album. However, unlike Taylor Swift, Asano’s violin solo in her “Labyrinth” puts metal guitar solos to shame. As Beck-Levine’s guitar swirls and storms around in the background, Asano puts on a thrilling display of her technical skills.
The setlist returns to metal with a cover of “Crazy Train,” revving up the audience once again. But the next track, the theme to “Power Rangers,” ends up being a surprise moment of sincerity. After a sassy and thrashing rendition where she absolutely shreds her violin solo, Asano takes a minute to dedicate the performance to Jason David Frank, an actor from the series. She shares how much the show means to her and how deeply she was impacted by his death. After consulting with his family, this Mia x Ally tour will be using this tour to raise awareness about suicide prevention. It’s a touching moment where Mia x Ally takes the time to really check in with their fans. They compound on this emotional episode by playing the ballad “What Was I Made For.” Ally returns to the whistle and plays an ethereal tune that flows by like water, swelling up and over each audience member. They finish the track by holding hands, bringing everything back to center.
The final tracks of the show bring the energy back up and remind everyone that there is a place for bagpipes and electric violin in metal. Whether it be the rowing melody of “Fade to Black,” the juxtaposition of classical violin and gritty guitar in “Storm,” or the folksy bagpipes and fiddle in their “Pumpkin/David/Kesh” medley, Mia x Ally knows how to hold their own in metal music. The show closes out with three more from their album – “Free Bird,” “Devil Went Down to Georgia, and “Through the Fire and Flames.” “Free Bird” and “Devil Went Down to Georgia” prove to be perfect opportunities for them to play off each other, hammering home how much they enjoy being Mia x Ally. They save the hardcore “Through the Fire and Flames” for the encore, smashing it out of the park.
The chemistry between Mia Asano and Ally the Piper is undeniable. When combined with Marraffa and Beck-Levy, Mia x Ally becomes an unstoppable force. Their album is now available, so be sure to listen to it ASAP.
emily spins it
