DARLINGS we had such a wonderful time with you last night. THANK YOU for being part of it. I realize now that my hardest workouts happen in 4.5 inch heels, a full face of makeup, and my favorite costume jewelry…. my legs are BARKING today.
I am too close to comment on the show, other than to say it was THRILLING (i’ve been using that word a lot, lately… hum) but have the honor of presenting this lovely review, written by one of my favorite singers, Karyn Paige.
Catch her at Coda in San Francisco this Saturday, January 30, 2010 with her band Supertaster. I’ll see you there…
In the meantime, Brass & Sass? I’ll take it :) here’s her review:
OONA at Bottom of the Hill by Karyn Paige
“As a person who sings for a living, I spend more time playing shows than watching them. However, on this rare Saturday night off I had the pleasure of catching OONA at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco. I felt like a bit of a secret agent in this trendy staple of a venue which was jam-packed nuts to butts with hipsters, but I didn’t let that wear me down. I came to watch a show and be entertained, and I was not disappointed.
At 10:01 p.m. the band took the stage, vamping until the woman of the hour made her entrance. The moment Oona stepped onstage in an overcoat, striped hoodie and Jackie O shades, I knew this would not be some ordinary local-yokel show. Immediately, the five-piece act moved like a battering ram of frenetically controlled chaos. The 45-minute power set seamlessly flowed nonstop, consisting of mostly up-tempo indie pop gems that I couldn’t help but bop to.
Oona has the brassy sass of a young Bette Midler backed by the Harlettes in Uptown New York crossed with the wide-eyed innocence of a Japanese anime’ character. She’s got a voice that will punch you in the gut while you’re not looking. Her songs will take you on a journey as if she’s breaking a PBR bottle over your head or handing you a love letter that will break your heart. I was on a roller coaster ride, and enjoying every minute of it.
Before I could register what just happened, Oona did an onstage costume change, ending the show in a tank and skivvies. impressive and bold to say the least. The last time I saw something like that was Summer 2008 when Bilal played the DNA Lounge. Funny, Oona and Bilal share the same kind of reckless abandon. They both have a nothing-to-lose attitude. At the same time, you could tell OONA had carefully and meticulously strategized a fail-safe set that was guaranteed to move the crowd, and it did. When they finished the last song, the whole place was chanting “ONE MORE SONG!” before the band even made an exit. We got our encore and it was worth the pleading.
Did I stay for Movits!, the Swedish hip-hop band featured on The Colbert Report who were BotH’s headliners? Nope. There was no need. I saw who I came to see, and made it home in time to catch “Dave Attell: Captain Miserable” on Comedy Central. My kinda Saturday night, y’all.
Check out OONA like a library book, but make sure you’ve got cash to pay your overdue charges. You won’t want to send her back from whence she came once you’ve been hipped to the opening line.
word.”
AGAIN – THANKS TO ALL who made last night the magical evening that it was. Let’s run away,
Oona Dave Andrew Matt Alex & a some Steve
