On the fourth night of a short run of North American duo tour dates, Perfume Genius’ Mike Hadreas and partner Alan Wyffels graced the stage of The New York Society for Ethical Culture’s Adler Hall with support from local New York artist Dan English.
There’s a flourishing desire to utilize existing venues in new ways and host shows in intimate third spaces, with churches in particular becoming increasingly sought after. I think of the already reigning indie champion St. John’s Lutheran Church, the Greenpoint chapel in which artists such as Hayden Pedigo, Porches, and Cameron Winter have played.
This duo tour, which has the pair performing in churches, armories, and arts centers, was booked with a seemingly similar purpose of placing the music in a setting that allowed audiences to connect with the artists in a more intentional way. Adler Hall served the stripped-back show tenfold, charmingly rickety wooden pews and all.
Opener Dan English was a perfect fit for the show and the space. Rather than a full band set, English stayed true to form for this tour and played a bare-bones set as a duo with collaborator Madeline Leshner. Despite the minimalist setup, English’s fuzzy guitar and Leshner’s drifting flute reverberated from floor to tall, tall ceiling, filling the space with ease.
Lead single and first track from 2025’s Sky Record (via Vinegar Hill Sound Records), “Across My Jaw,” rang out early on into his set. What started as a vibrant and melodic romp gave way to textured guitar tones packed with a fervor on the verge of boiling over.
The show’s venue was the topic of a fair amount of endearing banter from both artists, with Dan English leading into his last song of the evening, “Wedding Song,” with “I wonder if it’s ethical to subject you to these songs of mine, but it’s what I gotta do, it’s my job today.”
Mike Hadreas then took to the stage with Alan Wyffels. They settled into their seats at their respective keyboards facing away from each other. Without any line of sight to one another, they began to play in perfect synergy, and their profound bond immediately became clear. These are songs and stories that run through both of their veins, songs and stories that have taken shape and taken hold in both of their hearts. How special it was to witness these two living their music together with such regard.
The music of Perfume Genius inherently invites you to be a participant in vulnerable moments in time, but hearing this duo live at Adler Hall felt less like an invitation and more like being guided hand-in-hand.
A personal highlight was hearing a hauntingly simple, slowed-down version of “On the Floor,” an otherwise upbeat and percussive track. Lyrics “How long till this washes away? / How long till my body is safe? / How long till I walk in the light? / How long till this heart isn’t mine?” rang out with a stark clarity, unencumbered and fully on display, finding new life and new form in the ears of even the most familiar.
It was exciting to see such a change of pace from Hadreas’ chair-ography that was so beloved from his tour of 2025 album Glory (via Matador Records), though he did comment how hard it was to try and remain still for this particular run of shows. “No Front Teeth” and “Full On” were the only tracks representing his latest album, with him opting instead for a focus on earlier tracks, quite a few of which were off Set My Heart on Fire Immediately and No Shape. “Die 4 You” was a standout from the latter, with its delicate, ghostly vocals and atmospheric accompaniment that blossomed in the space.
“Whole Life” saw the duo at its most stirringly electric, with Wyffels ripping arpeggios that layered perfectly with Hadreas’ silken tones. The night ended with Wyffels leaving the stage for a solo rendition of “Describe,” followed by an encore of “Alan.” For the finale of the night, “Learning,” the partners shared the Adler Hall stage one last time.
An immediate standing ovation was imminent, and as I stood in a room full of folks basking in just as much wonder as I was, I felt so grateful for nights like these. The pair that had led us with such care through the evening then released us all into the brisk and misty spring night with a new sense of serenity and connection to one another.
Words and photos by Maddie Barkocy