Words and Photos by Desirea Corbett
Rocket Ignites a Packed Crowd at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn.
This past Saturday night, with unseasonably warm temperatures for November, Rocket charmed a packed house at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn, NY. The Los Angeles quartet formed in 2021, as childhood friends Alithea Tuttle (lead vocals and bass), Desi Scaglione (guitar), Baron Rinzler (guitar), and Cooper Ladomade (drums) began writing songs as a way to pass the time during the Covid-19 lockdown. Fast forward three years, and they have just released their first full length album, R is for Rocket, and are making their way through their first headlining tour.
The night began with two quick warm-up sets from the bands Bedridden, a Brooklyn-based indie rock band, and Cashier, a garage rock band from southern Louisiana. Both bands had a a heavier, high-energy sound which left the crowd buzzing with anticipation for the main event.
By the time Rocket took the stage, the intimate venue was packed wall to wall with an eclectic, all-ages crowd eager to see their new favorite band. Lead singer Alithea was sporting a new hairstyle, having traded her signature bright red locks for a darker, more subdued hue. The look felt symbolic of a new era for the band.
Opening with their hits “Take your Aim” and then “One Million,” Rocket continued on to play a 45-minute set including every song from their new album mixed with some songs from their 2023 EP. The moody lighting and Baby’s All Right’s signature back lit wall glittered with rainbow colors throughout the set and the guitars roared through the tiny room in a way that you could feel in your bones. The vibes perfectly complemented Rocket’s unique sonic blend of ‘90s grunge, shoegaze, and modern indie rock. For a couple of the songs, Alithea traded her bass guitar for a Farfisa, adding some depth to their sound and proving that her talents are multifaceted.
By the end of the night, the room was throbbing with energy — fans danced, phones swayed in the air and voices rose together on every chorus. Several people began chanting and shouting, “Wide Awake! Play Wide Awake!” As the chants grew louder, Alithea smiled and said, “Oh, we will, and you will be wide awake.”
They finally obliged in the second-to-last song and brought out their friend and publicist, Nik, to help play guitar, as it was his birthday. The crowd went wild cheering and singing happy birthday before he shredded along with the band.
They closed the night with an extended version of “R is for Rocket,” the title track from their debut album. As the final notes echoed through the room, the crowd stood transfixed – a sea of faces lit by the soft glow of the stage lights. Despite being a relatively new band, Rocket played with the confidence and cohesion of seasoned artists. If Saturday night was any indication, Rocket isn’t just taking off — they are already set for the stars.
Loudspeaker Collective 