SOUNDTRACK: CHARLY BLISS-Tiny Desk Concert #900 (October 9, 2019).
I wanted to wait until I saw Charly Bliss live before I watched this Tiny Desk Concert–even if the promo picture was certainly intriguing.
Lead singer Eva Hendricks was so much fun live, so full of joy and energy, that I’m glad I wasn’t expecting anything when I saw them.
In this Tiny Desk Concert, she is no less subdued, and her outfit–a pink tulle flouncy dress–is as vibrant as she is. There’s even a whole bunch of gold balloons!
Charly Bliss arrived at the Tiny Desk with roughly 20 gold balloons, a burst of energy and some glitter to match. The vibrancy, especially from singer Eva Hendricks, can feel childlike and candy-coated. On the other hand, the subject of these songs is more about the pain of entering adulthood and leaving some of that sweetness behind.
Actually she is somewhat subdued because these songs have been changed for the Tiny Desk. There’s even a small string section! (Rogue Collective: Kaitlin Moreno: violin; Alexa Cantalupo: violin; Natalie Spehar: cello).
They start with “Capacity” (which they started with when I saw them).
This song started with a drum machine because drummer Sam Hendricks was playing keys. But what’s surprising (and was surprising when I saw them is that the lead “synth” line of the song is actually played by guitarist Spencer Fox. Bassist Dan Shure is also playing keys on this song.
One of the most wonderful things about this song is how you can hear Eva Hendricks smile as she sings this song. Even if, as the blurb says
The three songs performed at the Tiny Desk, all from the band’s second album, Young Enough, are dark songs laced with the hope of bettering oneself.
After about two minutes, Dan switches to bass as the strings kick in and the song really takes off. Eva even does some pogoing (she never stopped bouncing when I saw them, although she seems to be restraining herself somewhat here).
Up next is “Young Enough,” which is the name of their second album.
While introducing the title track, Eva Hendricks tells the NPR crowd, “It’s been really incredible rearranging these songs for this [Tiny Desk Concert] because it makes you remember how you were feeling when you wrote it all. And this song is kind of about when you finally realize that you made it out to the other side of something really painful.”
One thing that was really great when I saw them (and here) is when all the band members sing along. Presumably that’s because
Eva Hendricks and her brother Sam Hendricks write the songs along with the other band members.
“Young Enough” starts quietly with just the keys (from Sam) before the gentle guitars chords strum in. For the first few verses, it’s the bass that is prominent as Eva sings. She is very into these songs–you can feel the emotion on her face (even with the eye shadow and glitter) as she sings. Midway through, she adds acoustic guitar and the strings fill in more.
Sam switches to drums for the final song, “Chatroom.” Eva introduces it with, “one of the most important things you have to do to grow is to cut some toxic people out of your life.”
When I saw them live, this song was a rocking fun fest. It’s certainly more subdued here (no pogoing or wailing solos) , but you can feel the infectious nature of the songs in the way everyone gets into it (including Rogue Collective). And the string crescendo at the end is a nice touch.
This is a band that is fantastic live–in any setting.
[READ: November 15, 2019] “On the First-World Campaign Trail”
I’m not sure how often Larry David writes for the New Yorker. I feel like this is the first piece, but I’m probably wrong about that.
This piece is political–sort-of-and is timeless in the sense that it could apply to any campaign of the last thirty years.
This piece isn’t crazy funny, but it is much funnier if you read it in Larry David’s voice. (more…)
