Light and Dark

On Wednesday, I was at The Dakota for a 6-9 pm show. Despite the early time, the venue was packed. All-female band The Surfrajettes got the evening revved up with a light, fun set. As their name made clear, they were all about the surf rock sound. Even their get-up was a 60s go-go including the bouffant hair. Although they had a few originals, they mostly did instrumental covers: either of classic surf-rock tunes or 60s song given the surf-rock treatment.

It was the sophomore album release for alt-country musician Sarah Cripps. It has been 5 years since her first release and her sound has gotten darker, perhaps even Southern gothic on numbers like Leave Behind, Charcoal Heart, and Robbery. But inclusion of older tunes like Heart of a Man showed that the foundation of her new sound was already there from the beginning. Her backing band brought a live intensity to her set especially lead guitarist Tom Juhas.