“Be Loud and Unapologetically Yourself” – Zinadelphia, Chezile & Alex Banin at Empire Garage

Ahead of their respective Sunday Austin City Limits performances, Zinadelphia and Chezile co-headlined at Empire Garage on Friday, October 3rd, with an opening performance from Alex Banin. This show also acted as the unofficial first date for Chezile’s “Wish You Were Here Tour.”

Alex Banin created a very intimate feel during her set in the small venue. The stage was illuminated by a couple of spotlights and tall battery powered candles that surrounded her mic stand. Banin performed without a band, using her guitar, laptop and other equipment to build and perform tracks from her 2024 debut Since Winona. During “From a Different Life, It Seems,” she encouraged the crowd to sing the chorus with her but think many had trouble getting the words in the right order (we got there by the end); I think she may have gotten closer to the desired effect had she clarified with the audience about joining her and taught the chorus lyrics before starting the song. “IN FEAR, ETC.” and “Doc Whiler” were my favorites from her set and I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next.

Zinadelphia performed second and was a star from the moment she hit the stage. The Philadelphia based singer took the stage to an Alice in Wonderland into before jumping into her hit “Steamstress.” She continued her set with a mix of more tracks from her 2025 EP The Magazine and older fan favorites, such as “Mirrorball” and “Cosmos.” Part of the way through her set, Zina had everyone join her in a pre-recorded ‘never-have-I-ever’ style “Is Your Man Mid” quiz before blowing them away with “Zinfandel.” Zina also treated the crowd to covers of Adele’s “Rolling in The Deep” and The Great Society’s “Somebody to Love.” As her time for the evening came to a close, she reminded the audience to “be loud and unapologetically yourself” before giving us all chills with “Advice from Ray.”
Zinadelphia has had undeniable vocal talent since her first release in 2022 and now she has the confidence in her artistry and performance that makes her impossible to ignore.

The evening closed out with indie/alternative singer Chezile. He opened his set with “Still In Love” followed by “Loveisheroin,” both from his 2024 EP 47. Next he sang “Hotel” from his second EP Alē, which came out in May this year. Chezile performed a cover of Steve Lacy’s “Dark Red” before continuing through his discography and ending the night with his TikTok hit “Beanie.”

You can catch Chezile and Alex Banin on the “Wish You Were Here Tour” from October 29th to November 13th. More information and ticket links here.
Photo credits: Kate Atkinson