Thoughts on Seeing Adelyn Strei LIVE
by Melody Thomas
I can't stop thinking about the worldbuilding that happened during Adelyn Strei's set at Alphaville this past Saturday night. Joined by Frank Meadows on upright bass and Hilary James on cello, Strei moved between electric guitar, clarinet, flute, and vocals. The set developed in such a narrativized way: Strei, Meadows, and James began with stirring instrumentation, gently drawing the setting. Then, their instrumentation was framed by Strei's vocals that built in imagery and plot lines. The entire set felt like one fluid song and painted memories in my brain: the way Spanish moss hangs off of live oak trees; the coo of a mourning dove; hearing my name called by people I love.
So when I had the chance to see Strei perform at Purgatory nearly a week later, I simply had to go. This time, Strei was joined by Mari Rubio (More Eaze) on violin and Frank Meadows on upright bass. It was during this set at Purgatory that a new description came to me: sanctuary-minded. Strei's live performances invite you into her sanctuary, revealing her own vulnerability on stage so that you might feel blessed by your own. This sanctuary-mindedness baptized me during one song in particular that has a working title of "Birdsing". Upright bass, violin, electric guitar, and loops of clarinet and whistles envelop Strei before she sings, "to know her / was to love her / to love her was the natural way / how come / some leave early / when most get to stay? / hold on / would it be better / if when birds sing / I don't learn their names". During both the Purgatory and Alphaville sets, these were the words that ushered me into my own sanctuary, helping me process Loss from my own life.
It's the possibility of sanctuary-mindedness that carries me to all of the live music I see. I'm eager to participate in an exchange of vulnerability by way of sounds, textures, voices, rhythms. Not only is Strei a masterful musician and song-writer, but she is also an incredibly generous facilitator of sanctuary-mindedness. It's what pushed me to attend 2 of her performances, nearly only a week apart. It's also what pushed me to write this piece -- if not just to process the sacred experience but also to push you, dearest of readers, to go see Adelyn Strei perform whenever you are presented the opportunity!!
happy halloween :) zoom in big time, go find it in the wild to help ur eyes
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s/o to our March designer Anna Rhody for this one, the amount of shows we included and times we emailed them being like sorry one more… truly heroic stuff. If you’re interested in designing a future issue of gunk, or writing a feature hit us up!!
playlist time:
<3
ceci & hannah
Great review! Hope to get to TV Eye on 4/16 to see Adelyn & Hannah. SO many shows to see...