So this concert was a couple of weeks ago, but I never got around to writing about it. But some of my impressions have stuck with me, so here goes.
I'd heard Leona Naess on the radio before; she had a song called "Charm Attack" that received a fair bit of airplay on Alice Radio and KFOG a year or so ago. The tune was pretty good, and I'd read a good review of her new album. (I particularly liked the fact that she had titled one song "Don't Use My Broken Heart to Pick Up Other Girls" or something like that.)
Unfortunately, Ms. Naess's performance was something of a disappointment for me. Too self-conscious of a performer for my taste, she caressed her microphone artfully and struck a number of dramatic poses. She's pretty, her voice is pretty, she sings a lot of songs about how somebody broke her heart, etc. — in short, nothing to distinguish her from a thousand and one other up-and-coming artists on Alice Radio. She even drew the typical Alice crowd: a mix of women and men in their twenties; the latter angling for a place in the front row and aiming their point-and-shoot digital cameras at the object of their affection.
Hem, on the other hand, were great. Sally Ellyson, the lead singer, definitely has presence (and is also pretty, hence featured prominently in all the band publicity) but she also comes across as good humored and graceful. She praised Leona, and took time between songs to tease her younger brother, who had apparently driven with her from their last gig in Oregon and was standing in the front row by the backstage door. And she sang wonderfully.
The other guys in the band were great too. The most noteworthy was Dan Messe, who started the band, recruited its members, and wrote most of the songs. He sat in the corner playing the piano and rocking back and forth with the most intense expressions on his face. A little odd, but there's no question he got stellar results from his efforts.
The songs themselves were mostly from their first album, Rabbit Songs, but some were from their EP and upcoming album. A few covers, like Elvis Costello's "Angels Want to Wear My Red Shoes", but mostly their own tunes, which all sound like they were written some time decades ago and are time-honored classics. "Stupid Mouth Shut" could have been done by Kirsty Maccoll. "All That I'm Good For" is my current favorite (that or "Half Acre") — both manage to be beautiful without being in the least bit treacly.
So in conclusion:
Leona Naess: eh. so-so.
Hem: go buy all their albums (well, the two that exist) now, and definitely go see them when they play in your town.
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