Contact: [email protected]
Web: kacyhill.com
Players: Kacy Hill, vocals; Valerie Franco, drums; Daniel Lape, guitar
Material: Kacy Hill sang plenty about disappointment at The Lodge Room. Ironic, given that the show didn’t seem to disappoint anyone in attendance. The concert featured opening acts from Hamond and Love Spells. Kacy Hill was performing in support of her new album, BUG. Lyrically, the new material struck a chord with the fans. The lyrics were undoubtedly one of the stars of the night. Hill mentioned that after her last tour, she considered leaving music behind to pursue a career in software engineering, as many struggling musicians do… She spoke of doubt and disatisfaction—feelings that come through loud and clear during the set. Look no further than the tune “Damn.”
Musicianship: Hill wasn’t just playing music; she was telling a story. Even the imagery of bugs, sometimes flying, sometimes eating or running in circles, played into one of the many themes of the night—insignificance. Small creatures in a big world. There’s also plenty of fun to the melancholy, too.
There’s a joyfulness to the playing, sometimes serving as just the right contrast to any down-and-out, smooth lyricism. The playing is as strong as the songwriting. When Hill picks up a saxophone, the concert takes extra flight. Her bandmates, drummer Valerie Franco and guitarist Daniel Lape, also made the stories come to life just right.
Performance: Franco brought the house down. Talk about a drummer and a voice connecting. Franco knew how to bolster the lyrics and singing, letting her drums provide sounds of thunder even for the most peaceful of melodies. It’s hard not to watch and listen to Franco at work and not be all smiles. There’s a vulnerability to Hill on stage that’s reflected in her body of work, which now spans four albums. She’s honest with her crowd, and that honesty is clearly appreciated among her fans, who seemed to hang on every lyric.
Summary: Given the audience’s reception, hopefully, Hill has forever left behind the thought of a career in software engineering. She writes about lows, but she performs them at such highs. What a warm show about cold feelings. Keep the contrasts coming, Kacy Hill.
