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Volume CXXXIII, Number 5 |
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Trio of "Indie Grrls" gives an intimate performance
LESLIE BRIDGERS
STAFF WRITER
Though the title "Indie Grrls" may sound like a troupe of chicks who wear their skirts too short and read too much Seventeen, they are actually three individually talented women-Trina Hamlin, Lynn Deeves, and Colleen Sexton-who dress casually for their concerts and, judging by their impromptu witticisms and mature lyrics, probably read a lot of good books.
On their tour of Maine, the three solo singer-songwriters graced the stage of Kresge Auditorium last Tuesday night with songs about love, politics, and pet dogs. Their simple strumming and clear, yet personal lyrics made for a relaxing evening for the intimate audience with an atmosphere reminiscent of a good episode of Storytellers.
The women played in a round, taking turns pounding out chords and pouring out their hearts. While the majority of the songs were fun and folk-y, each "grrl" clearly had a wide range of abilities and emotions.
Hamlin started off the set with a short upbeat song comprised of simple chords and lyrics brought to life by her deep, soulful voice. She traded off singing with playful harmonica melodies. Deeves took over with a similar tune. The chorus may have been somewhat generic-"I've been trying so hard to soothe my soul / Connecting the dots to make me whole"-but her powerful vocals that sweetly swarmed into high vibrato gave it a distinctive tone. Sexton continued with a new number, "Benediction." Though her voice was the most delicate of the three, this song was the richest of the round.
In the four subsequent efforts of each artist, they gradually got more comfortable with the audience and more open with their lives, starting each song with personal explanations of their inspirations and even cracking jokes about everything from Baba Wawa to Atari. Mixed in with the Melissa Etheridge-folk were blues numbers with an emphasis on the harmonica.
Hamlin even ventured over to the Steinway on the side of the stage for a self-proclaimed "lounge act" for which she jokingly asked her audience to "just pretend we're at the Holiday Inn." Sexton finished off the set with her "happy love song" called "This Whole World," and the three agreeably pleased the audience with a joint effort encore to end the night.
Though the somewhat awkward scheduling left the "Indie Grrls"
with a smaller audience than their talents deserved, for those who missed
the concert, or just can't get enough, the women will be ending their
tour on Wednesday at the St. Lawrence Community and Arts Center in Portland,
with a show undoubtedly worth the drive.
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