Avengers Assemble!

When by chance I caught Hill Kourkoutis' acoustic set last fall, I was struck by the strong melodies and harmony of her songs. On Monday night, I went to the Drake Underground for her CD release party to see how she would perform with a full band as Hill and the Sky Heroes.

They had transformed the stage into a sci-fi setting. A bright light shone behind a perforated wall, beaming rays of starlight into the room. The sound mix was balanced and clear, putting emphasis on Hill's and Taibah's strong vocals. The lead guitarist pumped out bright chords and wakka-wakka riffs, joining the growing ranks of excellent local female guitarists (see Army Girls, The Box Tiger, The Balconies). Tonight they had some guests including Serena Ryder, Damhnait Doyle, and a guy on a sousaphone who helped finish the set (as well as a kazoo chorus).

Most of the crowd seemed to be family and friends, including a few of her teachers from high school. However, they are playing an NXNE set. They will no doubt become more well-known soon with their catchy surf-rock.