Review by: James Pappaconstantine
Photograpger: James Pappaconstantine
More show photos: HERE
The first time I heard ZZ Ward was on Late Night with Carson Daily more than a year ago. I missed seeing her in Boston last year so when I heard she was coming to my own hometown I jumped at the chance to shoot the show.
Port City Music Hall is a great place to see shows, not too big, not too small, just the perfect size, a great sound system and nice lighting (which sometimes can be lack luster, but for this show it was adequate ) Most of the shows that I have seen there have had half houses maybe a little less, but ZZ packed the house. The first thing I noticed while approaching the venue was the line outside the door. The second thing I noticed was that the majority of the audience was hot girls. Yeah, It’s going to be a good night.
As the first band hit the stage I made my way to the front, to find there was no barricaded pit section to shoot from, so I was stuck shooting from side stage.
New York’s ‘Swear And Shake’ opened the show and had the audience eating from the palm of their hands. The four piece band consists of: Kari Spieler / Vocals and Guitar, Adam McHeffey / Vocals, Guitar and Banjo, Shaun Savage / Bass and Ben Goldstein / Drums. Their music might be categorized as Indie Folk and was reminiscent of Mumford and Sons, yet the female. Kari’s voice is very soothing and she was a lot if fun to watch on stage. Not to be over shadowed by Kari’s beauty Adam was a wild man on stage, he’s one of those guys who contorts his face when he plays, throwing himself and his guitar around the stage. The band was allot of fun and the line at their merchandise booth after the show said it all. Portland just about cleaned them out of CD’s, T-shirts and other goodies,
A quick set change and ZZ Ward’s band hit the stage, Erick Walls carving himself a signature tone with his Fender Stratocaster and his hand wired Carr boutique amp. Holding down a groove was Shadarrius (Darrius) Shields on Bass and Chris Patt on Drums. Together they jammed out for a minute or two while the levels were set and the Erick introduced ZZ (Zsuzsanna) Ward and set his guitar down to jump on keyboards, he would return to the guitar throughout the night, When ZZ walked on the stage the crowd went wild. (Did I mention they were mostly hot women?) She opened the show with her hit single ‘Put The Gun Down’ and watching her command the stage you could tell you were witnessing something big.
If you have never heard ZZ, check her out, Her music reminds me of a cross between ‘Pink’ and the classic sounds of ‘Billie Holiday’ or ‘Etta James’ Blues with a bit of new age R&B. An amazing talent with an amazing band behind her.
High-lights of the set were the above mentioned ‘Put The Gun Down’, ‘Charlie Aint Home’, (which she introduced as an answer to Etta James’ ‘Waiting For Charlie’, ) ‘Cryin Wolf’ (A song about a drunkin’ Lover) and ‘Blue Eyes Blind’ (A song that had both Erick and ZZ beating a floor Tom at the front of the stage.)
After the show ZZ was gracious enough to hang out and take pictures with her fans and sign their posters and CD’s.After the gear was packed up they climbed back on the bus and headed to New York City where they will perform on Jimmy Kimble Live.
This was one of the best shows I’ve seen this year. Thank You ZZ and band for playing for us.
The set list:
Put The Gun Down
Til The Casket Drops
Home
Got It Bad
365 Days
Last Love Song
Charlie Aint Home
Grinnin’
If I Could Be Her
Cryin’ Wolf
Criminal
Move Like U Stole It
Blue Eyes Blind