Live @ The Goldhawk in Hoboken
I accidentally discovered Bern for the first time tonight. Accidentally because I was there to see someone else, but missed their set. Having paid my cover, I stayed and was immediately captivated.
Bern is the brainchild of Bernadette Malavarca who concocts a potion of folk and blues with an infectious attitude. The unique tone and vibrato of her voice pulled me in to her world of love, loss and life. I found myself at certain points standing there, staring like a child wanting to learn more and to feel more.
The rawness of her guitar added a palpable tension to each moment while the sweet tones of Adam Streicher’s guitar smoothed out the edges just enough so I wouldn’t cut myself. Driving us all along on this trip were drummer Mark Stevens and bassist Catherine McGowan.
It’s Not You, It’s Me is a fully self-produced and self-released debut CD for Bern. Much like the music itself there is no pretense here. No made-up record label name in an attempt to lend false credibility to the project. Just honest, resolute expressions. I like that. For those of you still using such trickery to look more ‘professional’ I have some advice … STOP! You’re really not fooling anyone.
I always believed that people who are passionate and honest about the art they create are somehow connected, and they run in the same circles or are associated with some of the same people. So I was happy to see, while perusing the Bern website, that we had a mutual cohort in the person of Gabe Anel.
Gabe runs Interplanetary Productions and has worked with Bernadette on past projects such as Lullibi. He also manned the controls for my band’s CD (All iS nOt loST by Ya-Ne-Zniyoo).
See Also:
Bern
