Reviewed by Phillip Marshall
Hera graced the stage with a quiet
confidence and surety in her performance. Her extensive touring
and recording was evident in the strong delivery of her
songs.
Hera’s
Taylor 314CE cutaway guitar sounded bright and warm throughout
the evening. Her playing was always solid, never detracting from
the beauty of her lyrics or the subtlety in her vocal delivery.
Most of Hera’s songs were accompanied with various plucking
accompaniments on her guitar but she also showed great ompetency
when using a driving strumming rhythm to support her more
up-tempo songs.
Hera began the first set with a fun song called Sound Check
before singing a song titled Sorry. This song displayed the
beauty of her lilting voice and her ability to communicate
emotions on a personal and universal level.
Angel By Her Side -– her brother’s favourite song
– was another beautifully crafted tune and Fog Town (a
Michelle Shocked cover) was well received by the audience. When
singing traditional Icelandic tunes like Dalokofinn two things
were immediately evident: first, Hera’s love and respect
for her homeland and second, the simplicity and power of these
songs to communicate with people of every race. Hera’s
voice seemed to acquire a richer, mournful, wise quality when
singing the traditional songs learned from childhood.
The first set was filled with other high quality songs including
Adrian, Make-believe, Where is your Baby? and Nothing to Say.
“Nothing to Say” was a great slap in your face break
up song sung with a raw edge and brutal honesty.
The second set was full of highlights. Don’t Play This,
according to Hera, the nastiest song she has written, was superb.
Hera’s crystal clear lyrics were supported by a driving
rock rhythm. Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now was delivered
in a straightforward, unaffected manner.
A personal highlight for me was the song Here We Are.
Hera’s voice was pure beauty and the bird sounds at the end
of the song were beautifully entwined.
The songs Wings, Feathers in the Bag and Chameleon Girl
showcased Hera’s ability to tell stories of personal
experience and change through music. Itchy Palms is a great song.
I thought Hera was at her absolute best during this song,
relaxed, confident and with the audience in the palm of her
hand.
Old Fashioned Girl and Dirty Old Town were both sung with a
great sense of fun and enjoyment and it was good to see a
performer not afraid to stop and change the key when it
wasn’t working.
The Snowman is the only love song written by Hera, from the
perspective of a broken hearted fifteen-year old. It was another
example of her ability to communicate personal experience in
song.
Hera finished the set with another traditional Icelandic tune
and then The Devil in Me was requested as an encore. Hera let her
voice go, showing real power and energy and this, combined with
the driving rhythm of the Taylor guitar was pure magic. No one
would have left the performance disappointed. Hera’s great
enunciation and diction meant that the audience heard every word.
Her repertoire of traditional, self penned songs and the
occasional cover meant that there was something for everyone to
enjoy and connect with. Thanks for a fantabulous evening. We are
all pleased to have you living and performing in New Zealand.