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Julie Chadwick soundchecks with a little extemporaneous song of apology for distracting us from the Red Sox, then launches into a short set with just acoustic guitar and voice. She does a mix of Helicopter Helicopter songs, (her own and Chris Zerby's) and her own non-H2 material. I'm a big fan, so I'm kind of surprised and disappointed to learn that I don't think her voice stands up well out in the front like this. It's great in a noisier setting. I also miss her completely demonic electric guitar leads, and she struggles to remember chords for one song. (Chris shouts a suggestion from the audience.) But the songs themselves are just so damned good--upbeat and energetic, with gorgeous, interesting melodies and lyrics that manage to be goofy and fun without being at all dumb--that I'm sad the set's not longer.
Clayton Scoble plays electric guitar and sings in a warm, gruff baritone that I like very much. His songs are much more down-tempo and mellow, which works well on the Other Side of the Bear. He, too, struggles to remember the chords for one song, but mostly the guitar playing is noticeably good, with a few tastefully used effects and a lot of odd, cool chord combinations. He plays one cover (which I don't recognize; it might be called "Lonely Is As Lonely Does") which fits so well with his songs that I have no idea it's not his until he tells us.
Last up is Lilia Halpern. The audience is becoming increasingly distracted by the Red Sox game playing soundlessly in the corner but, as Ad Frank points out, rock music is better than baseball. I'm initially frightened by her speaking voice, which is high, thin, breathy, and nasal. Then she starts singing, and even though it's the same voice, somehow she really makes it work. Her lower register is particularly lovely. The songs themselves don't really do it for me; they're very simple and almost too pretty. But she sings them well, and her guitar has a really solid, meaty sound.
