BrightestYoungThings: LiveDC: Family Hemerlein Is Alive & Well & Hilarious

All photos: Shauna Alexander & Mark Silva
All (brief) words:Svetlana

At some point during the inaugural Bentzen Ball Presents: The Family Hemerlein Variety Show (a mouthful but a proud mouthful at that) I sent a text message out that said "This is just like a Wes Anderson movie, but a show" and that, in my mind, captures the spirit of what went on last Thursday at the Arts Club of Washington the best.
And why? Because Matthew Hemerlein is nice, talented, intelligent and has a certain style and flair to him that attracts people who are also nice, intelligent, and of a certain style and flair themselves. And it is a joy to behold: people that should be together, being together, and doing what they do best.

This time around he and Seaton Smith (the MC of the evening) gathered a colorful bunch: Birdie Busch came down from Philadelphia to break your heart one winsome, toe tapping song at a time.

Ben Kronberg, formerly of Denver, now of New York and en route to Montana rapped, read and told jokes and sang about everything from child molesters to people named Larry (actually one and the same) with perfect, immaculate deadpan,

and finally everyone from Lex Paulson to The Thornley Brothers of US Royalty to Brandon from Laughing Man sang and played all sorts of instruments and did songs composed by everyone from Bach to Queen to themselves. And everyone wore a jacket or a particularly fantastic cardigan and told charming, familial jokes and had nicknames for each other, just for that night only. It felt like you stumbled into a friend's (very well decorated) parlor and some people just happened to be funny and awesome in it. And naturally, you don't want to leave. Maybe even ever.

There were 2 sets: one at 9 and one at 10:30 and you were welcome to stay for both or just come for one. Of course, it being a work/school day and all, half the people (predictably) jumped ship before the later show and that was a shame: the performers loosened up, the trust was established and ready to be abused (Seaton just wants you to know that he does not! want to sleep with 14 year olds, OK?) and things flowed more freely and formerly accordingly. There was a little something for everyone and a big something for some.

The next Family Hemerlein will take place on the LAST THURSDAY OF MARCH (and on every last Thursday of every month from now on, albeit at a new location) with a new cast of characters and YOU SHOULD COME FOR SURE.

Now, lets enjoy some more photos: by Shauna: