Raphaella recounts the weekend in big sounds, broken bass strings and cowboy hats.
I’d like to formally confirm, that was a BIG WEEKEND. I don’t know whether it was our newly minted Level 1 or just Wellington’s insatiable love affair with live music that amplified everything. For me, Gig.one’s Saturday send reminded me of everything I adore about gigs. I can also say for sure that I’d never seen Wellington show up with that much electricity at San Fran.
INHOUSE started us all off right by cranking some bass-heavy beats to an already full room. Next up was Violet Hirst, this was the first time I’d seen Violet play solo with her band and my god, what a gift! She wooed the crowd so easily with a big, yet intimate sound. And I mean, the cowboy hat? Amazing. And honestly, when she sang to us lying down on the floor, San Fran felt more like a house party than a bar, and we were all stacked into someone’s bedroom dancing. This was the first, but certainly won’t be the last time I dance to that angelic voice.
After that we were given barely a breather out on the balcony before being shook up by Miss Cressida’s massive set. The footage you see here is a bit manic because I could barely stay still, the whole crowd was absolutely humming. And by humming, I mean they got the whole crowd yelling the lead-in to Sundown. It was hands down the biggest sound from Miss Cress’ that I’ve ever heard. Rest in peace to Oscar’s bass strings, plural.
Arjuna then smoothed out the mosh into a dance party, full of happy, twirly folks. I’ve seen Arj play a bunch of times and everytime it feels like he loves his grooving crowds and boy, do they love him back. Maybe I’m being soppy because I missed this, but it was a beautiful thing to see all the beaming, sweaty faces of friends and strangers from the side of the stage. It reminded me why I have spent a good chunk of my weekends (and Wednesday’s) in the hallowed halls of San Fran.
I think we can all agree that the weekend was big, and something I’d like to add is that the electricity of the raving crowd on Saturday was multiplied exponentially on Sunday when Wellington showed up for the massive Black Lives Matter protest. Now that we’re back at Level 1, I am optimistic that everyone will take their pent-up energy and put in into showing up for the stuff that really matters throughout this crazy year we call 2020.
LEVEL ONE. GIG.one by Raphaella Holder-Monk
All Images Raphaella Holder-Monk and Kenzie Pigman