Last year was a good one for Thao Nguyen. She and her band, The Get Down Stay Down, released their first album for Kill Rock Stars. We Brave Bee Stings and All, which was TWSIS’s #1 album of 2008, was met with strong praise. The band spent a good portion of the year on tour. And Thao played last year’s Noise Pop festival.
This year, she was invited back to Noise Pop as a headliner at the Swedish American Music Hall. Her set was originally billed as a solo performance. And that is how she began her set – just her guitar and vocals. After a few songs, however, she added two friends on background vocals.
Sticking primarily to songs from We Brave Bee Stings and All, Thao’s set was a unique combination of intimate and energetic. The Swedish American Music Hall, which the singer pointed out doubles as a private venue for weddings and other occasions, provided a relaxed atmosphere that allowed for Thao to be conservational between songs. While it was alluring to catch Nguyen without her normal backing musicians, she still performed each song with the same driving energy that makes full band shows exhilarating.
Ezra Lipp, who supported Thao on drums, made his entrance by banging a tambourine and dancing down the center aisle of the venue. Once he reached the stage, he threw down the tambourine and jumped behind the full kit. Lipp’s style, which was understandably similar to The Get Down Stay Down’s Willis Thompson, is jazzy but with a strong intensity. This helped lift Thao’s animated stage presence to another level.
The supporting acts for the evening set up a nice and relaxed mood. Colossal Yes began the night with a mellow set of minimal but melodic music. Combining moving piano and electric guitar lines with a guest flutist, the music and vocals was irresolutely complaisant.
Sean Smith, the second act, played acoustic guitar instrumentals. The songs were folk-based, but veered into Windham Hill-style new age compositions. Most of the songs were differing opening tunings and provided moments for Smith to banter while adjusting his tunings. This set demonstrated his musical skill with his tranquil, picking style.
David Dondero gave a needed lift to the night. While not highly energetic, his songs were meritorious. Dondero’s lyrics were full of colorful descriptions and specific locales. Roughly half the set had his acoustic guitar and vocals accompanied by Jamin Barton on chromatic harmonica, bowed saw, alto sax, and bass clarinet. Barton’s parts were unobtrusive and made a good match with Dondero’s folk songs.
Short story review of Thao with the Get Down Stay Down's We Brave Bee Stings and All
We Brave Bee Stings and All on TWSIS’s #1 album of 2008
Thao with the Get Down Stay Down's official website
Thao with the Get Down Stay Down on myspace
David Dondero's official website
David Dondero on myspace
Sean Smith on myspace
Colossal Yes on mysapce
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