all words and photos: Francis Chung
A large and enthusiastic crowd packed the Black Cat Backstage last Thursday for a concert celebrating the release of Pree’s debut EP, A Chopping Block. Led by May Tabol (formerly of Le Loup), the DC-based quartet played a strong forty-minute set showcasing material from its excellent new record. Displaying a fundamentally folk-oriented aesthetic enlivened by electronic effects and diverse instrumentation (guitars, keyboards, bass, flute, glockenspiel, melodica, drums, etc.), Pree was a captivating live act, delivering mesmeric renditions of tracks such as “In the Parlor,” “Heaven Is a Drag,” and “Light Fails.” Tabol’s distinctive vocals gave plaintive voice to a fascinating (and often melancholic) cast of characters, evocatively drawing the audience into the haunted narratives of her songs.
Earlier, Charlottesville-based folk-rock duo Birdlips opened the evening’s proceedings with their first DC performance, followed by a stirring solo-acoustic set by local singer-songwriter Meredith Bragg, a labelmate of Pree on The Kora Records. Pree’s EP officially comes out on Tuesday, and although the band has no local shows currently scheduled, it has booked a handful of upcoming gigs elsewhere on the east coast, including appearances at NYC’s Union Hall and Pianos in April.
Previously in Live DC:
- 5/22: LiveDC: Spirit Animal @ Red Palace
- 5/22: LiveDC: Astra Via @ Black Cat
- 5/22: LiveDC: Father John Misty @ Rock & Roll Hotel
- 5/22: LiveDC: Drive-By Truckers and Lucinda Williams @ Merriweather
- 5/22: Photos: Summer Camp takes the "Ladies of Town" Drag Show
- 5/22: LiveDC: Penguin Prison & Class Actress @ RNR Hotel
- 5/21: LiveDC: James Morrison @ 930 Club
- 5/21: Photos: Que Sera L'Anniversaire @ Napoleon
- 5/21: LiveDC: La Sera/ Beach Week @ Red Palace
- 5/21: LiveDC: The Black Keys & Arctic Monkeys @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
God loves a cheerful giver.
I stopped by for Pree and was kinda disappointed. pretty boring and not what I expected after listening to the tracks here. maybe it will be better next time.
was one of the better shows I've been to on the backstage in a while, was surprised how well rehearsed Pree was, can't wait for more. Birdlips + Meredith were also wonderful.
I thought Pree was great. One correction though: Birdlips has been playing shows in DC for a while. They headlined a show at the Black Cat a couple months ago and they're playing with Bowerbirds at the Rock and Roll Hotel in April.