She had the afternoon off from class, which she spent recording a new song, and after our meeting, she had to run to Stop and Shop to pick up groceries. Nearly a year after that performance, Gish and I met in a JP Licks near Northeastern University in Boston. Whether or not she feels comfortable with all these people watching, she is good. She gets louder as the lyrics get angrier her voice quivers when they’re more self-conscious. Her guitar playing is messy yet pure, emotional yet measured. Without a band, she uses a looping pedal to layer her guitar playing, so no song sounds the same as it does on record. She seems to settle in after her third song her confidence rises after she belts a song about her insecurities and worries for the future. The crowd doesn’t seem to notice, though, as they sit without chairs on the floor listening intently. When she talks, she wavers ever so slightly, and every now and then she breathes into the microphone. Her voice breaks throughout the performance, and her singing isn’t as clear as it is on her recordings. Sometimes standing for a long time can be exhausting, so that’s why I say this.” The crowd laughs, and she begins. “Good to see you’re all sitting down, and having a good time. As she tunes the guitar, she engages in a little crowd banter. WGBH, a Boston radio station, is recording the performance, as they will post it on their YouTube channel afterwards. The lights are trained on her as she walks out. She’s wearing a plain red t-shirt as she stands in front of a large room of people. She holds an olive green Fender Stratocaster, the instrument’s white pickguard adorned with a few stickers just below the strings and a rainbow just above the ¼ inch cable plug. Behind her are a piano, music stands, and a few chairs.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |