Lavender Diamond played Bowery Ballroom – review + photos
After spending gruelling hours at work all weekend, running through the rain to catch Lavender Diamond at Bowery Ballroom was a fantastic decision. The Chapin Sisters, who make an appearance on Lavender Diamond’s latest Imagine Our Love, were almost through their set when I got there (Entrance opened before them). At first I worried over the thin crowd that looked like a ladies night out (we might as well have been given picnic baskets). But as soon as they left the stage, the crowd closed in, and the space filled up nicely, though not completely, by the time Becky Stark and friends came on.
Becky Stark is a charm, and her energy’s contagious. She uses the words “love” and “peace” unapologetically, has an immensely trained voice that is big without being loud, and is truly happy to be on stage. She made an entrace frolicking and waving. After each song, she jumped in excitement, reiterating how awesome it was going to be as we got “deeper into the night,” wishing that they had a song titled “Deeper Into the Night.” After playing “Open Your Heart,” which the band has nicknamed “the practical song,” she asked if she was allowed to say, “I love that song!” She wondered if that would be inappropriate or uncool.
More Becky Stark obssession after the jump.
To understand Becky Stark, and hence her band, you must simply read their album’s title: Imagine Our Love. They have imagined it nicely, and are probably hooked to it. Plenty of clues were freely given on stage too: in spite of saying “who cares about narratives anyway?” and “we’re going to play a bunch of songs, in a row,” Becky could not stop talking, though she warned, “I have to remember to not talk too much”. She got into how sorrow is integral to happiness, said love is an antidote to war, isn’t it?, that the world is the best it has ever been (don’t forget, these are the best times), and so forth. She shared a recent story of having danced with an infant in Hoboken, thanked electricity and wondered out loud where it comes from- the rivers? She has an entirely bubbly personality, however, without a trace of anything that may cause offense, or feel overbearing, no matter what she says.
Lavender Diamond masterfully played a refined set as a four-piece, with digital piano, a minimalistic drum set-up, an acoustic guitar and singing. Guitarist Jeff Rosenburg is no longer with the band, so the goofy Devon Williams filled in. He suggested that they sing “Happy Birthday” to Scott in the sound booth, which they did. But keyboardist Steven Gregoropoulos picked a strange key for it, which caused Devon to get a little lost. When Becky Stark asked Devon to hold the microphone, twice, he commented that she never uses the stand. She responded by saying, it’s so that she has a chance to look him in the eyes. Later Devon said something was stuck in his shirt and pulled out a diamond ring, shrugging and putting it aside. Becky cheered for romance, as she cheered for practical people at another point. It was also somewhat of a Los Angeles night at Bowery- all three bands are from there.
Devon Williams
Steven Gregoropoulos
Ron Rege, Jr.
June 3, 2007
Bowery Ballroom
Previously:
