Monday, February 16, 2009

Concert Review: Lisa Hannigan


Lovely Lisa

Irish singer Lisa Hannigan transports you to another world with her surreal voice that is two parts angelic, one part sass. This duality is reflected in her clothing, as tonight she outfits herself in bold red tights and boots on bottom, with a soft blue and white flowered dress on top.

She has a softer sound and attitude compared to her female counterparts Feist or Cat Power, and plays diverse instruments, such as an old harmonium (bought in NYC, and which desperately needs some love "Is there a harmonium doctor in the house?") and a mouth piano. Her voice, quite literally, puts you at ease.

Lisa is accompanied by 4 other band members (Gavin Glass, who had a well-received opening act, Donagh Malloy, Shane Fitzsimmons, and TomO), who play guitar, stand up bass, drums, banjo, horns, and mouth piano, amongst other instruments. At one point, the tour manager came out to play the xylophone.

At times I could close my eyes and feel like I was on the corner of a Parisien street, with the sounds of accordion and Lisa's sweet, sweet voice like a birdsong. In "An Ocean And A Rock" when she sings "Let's get lost, me and you" you want to take her up on the offer.

Other favorites were "Pistachio" and "Lille", and my own personal favorite "I Don't Know". They ended the night with an encore of an Iron & Wine cover, "Until They Cut Me Down", which started slow but crescendoed to a rocking high.

After the show, the entire band came out to talk to their fans, who were most appreciative. Every now and then a band comes along that is truly able to take advantage of the ambience and play to the good sound quality of the Triple Door. This was one of those bands.

Lisa Hannigan can lull me with her lullabies anytime.

Check out:
http://www.myspace.com/lisahannigan
http://www.thetripledoor.net/

~Kristen

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