The rock group—off high from the Peacemaker theme—is touring in support of a new album
Rockers Foxy Shazam hit the stage at Gramercy Theater in NYC a little after 9 pm tonight (Mon, Dec 1st) for an explosive 17-song set that spanned an hour plus. Their set featured songs from throughout their over two decades as one of the most authentic groups in rock and roll.
The seven-piece group opened with 2008’s “Yes! Yes! Yes!” as lead singer Eric Nally exploded onto stage in a waist-length blue coat with sparkling rhinestones. He looked quite like I imagine Doug Henning would have looked if, instead of an illusionist, he decided to front the Doors.
Throughout the set, the rest of the group matched Nally’s cosmically unending energy. Keyboardist Sky West was particularly fun to watch, as he let his Roland crowd-surf while he played it. He often tipped it off the edge of the stage, at once performing a balancing act and playing the high-octane numbers.
Nally’s voice belongs in the pantheon of those high-wailing rockers; Plant, Mercury, even Geddy Lee. It’s a 70s tinged sound with an unapologetic warble that’s so rare in the 21st century. Where other “rock” groups lack in the vocal department, they make up with production tricks. Nally’s voice is so singular, there’s no need for anything else. That’s pure rock. “Love Like This,” written by drummer Teddy Aitkins, featured all those facets of Nally’s voice. It would have been right at home in the rock cannon of 50 years ago.
One key element that sets Foxy Shazam’s style apart is the inclusion of horn player Alex Nauth. When he’s not whipping around his trumpet, his rich voice rises to form powerhouse harmonies with Nally, such as on the mid-tempo ballad “Only Love.”
Of course, the centerpiece of the set was what has become Foxy Shazam’s most mainstream song to date. Despite previous exposure on the Super Bowl, with a Cartoon Network theme song and more forays into the culture, it was James Gunn’s use of the band’s music across DC superhero films that brought them broad attention. In particular, the HBO show Peacemaker had millions singing their track, “Oh, Lord,” all summer long this year.
And it is this song that had the crowd singing the loudest and fist-pumping the hardest of the night. It seems in 2025, lots of people relate to having “some rough fucking years.”
A unique moment at the Gramercy came when West, the keyboardist, and guitarist Devin Williams backed opener Hot Fix Sideshow as they returned to the stage. The pair played a heavy, ominous tune under the Comey Island-based circus act’s sword-swallowing routine.
They continued with the dark sound on “Ghost Animals,” with its aggressive guitar lick, accented by an almost-shouting Nally. It created a very cool contrast to the rest of the set. Towards the end of the night, they played a new song, “Too Fast,” a jumpy number with an addictive keyboard riff.
It seems Foxy Shazam is ready to meet this moment, when a love of real music and real talent is reemerging among the public. There’s something very special about what this band is doing—having a grounded foundation with real, A-class music allows them to be as wild and out there as performers as they want to be. And to quote the title track off their latest LP, that’s the real “Magic” that will carry them for years to come.
