ISSUE #72 / August 15, 2019

Macie Stewart / all📷 : MVM

New tunes was the theme Vivian McConnell (V.V. Lightbody) and Macie Stewart (Ohmme) curated for this wonderful evening at the Hungry Brain. Brand spanking new music that is yet to be released or even recorded that each artist is looking to use for their respected bands’ new albums. The show was last-minute:  put together only a couple days prior. Due to the power of social media and the mention of a sneak peek into new music, the Hungry Brain kept filling up. With a mixture of fans and some Roscoe Village locals making their way out to the bar for a typical Wednesday, everyone was in for a unique and intimate night of music. It was very refreshing to go to a show where everyone was respectful of the musicians playing and giving their utmost attention. The only occasional sounds you heard were the bartender cleaning some glasses from time to time. This is what it must have felt like to be in  Greenwich Village during the early ‘60s. It was incredibly courageous of these talented musicians to get up on stage and perform music that is still in the raw stages of development.

Macie Stewart performed solo to start the night. With her violin, Stewart plays a few notes, records them, and has them start on a loop. Then she plucks the violin to do the same and loops over the first violin. She riffs over the two loops, and begins the crazy experimentation that she is known for. Stewart says the name of this wild song is “Tone Pone” and lets out a slight chuckle. Before starting the next song, Stewart informs us that she intends to use it on the next Ohmme album, which the group plans on recording soon. Stewart also features her songwriting skills with “Mind Me as Well,” to begin the contribution to the new tunes theme that was in full-affect all night. Following this up, Stewart keep the new music coming with a song she had written a couple days before the evening’s performance. To finish her set, Stewart performed a song she wrote about when she used to live near the Hungry Brain. The apartment was above a 4 a.m. bar right on Western while construction was going on at Belmont and Western that started at 6 a.m. The song was about the subsequent lack of sleep you might expect given the circumstances. 

Moving the night along (and really the driving force to making these night possible,) was Vivian McConnell, aka V.V. Lightbody. McConnell is a shining example of a working musician, and is constantly on the move. Whether she’s playing with her own group, or the Grandkids, or the new project that is Valebol, or sitting in with Divino Nino, McConnell has deservingly earned the respect of fellow musicians. 

McConnell was accompanied by Mike Harmon on bass, Dan Pierson on keys, and Nate Friedman on drums. She was constantly gauging the crowd to see how the new songs were being received. She was nervous but handled the emotion very well. McConnell was willing to share the titles of each song performed but did not give a name or release date for the album. 

Lightbody had only rehearsed these new songs a few days prior to the show, so everything was fresh. The group started with “B.Y.O.B.” It does not stand for “bring your own beer,” rather,  be your own boyfriend. “B.Y.O.B.” is an inspiring tune about being ok with being alone and levels of maturity you need in order to reach that independence. Lightbody keeps the soft folk and nap rock that has described their music in the past but adds a lighter jazz element to the new songs. “If it’s Not Me” stood out among the new tunes and really showcases Lightbody’s maturity in songwriting. After going through the new songs that Lightbody wanted to try out, the group played “Baby, Honestly” and “Car Alarm” which were each released earlier this year. Be on the lookout for the release of their new album. Side note: make sure you throw up the V’s next time you see V.V. Lightbody perform!

 -MVM

V.V. Lightbody does not have any upcoming shows. Macie will performing with Ohmme at The Riv on Nov. 29th. Tickets are $30.