If growing up in NYC is an instant badge of honor to your range of worldly pursuits, Hurray For The Riff Raff’s Alynda Lee Segarra certainly carries it proudly. This was a fairly small and intimate set at Mellow Johnny’s. To give a good impression what the crowd was after, there was a lady who overheard my casual conversation with Paul about whether or not to wear a KEXP button. In order to address my lackluster attitude, she decided to abuse me: “You must strive to expand your horizons,” she implied. I assume I can do so by simply attaching a metallic plaque for an American public radio station that was made in China to my chest.
Then again that’s probably why most of the audience came: to live vicariously through the soulful musings of Segarra because they lack the courage to even contemplate moving to Seattle before putting on a KEXP pin. This self same frustration hides behind some of their songs, simmering. Together with the rest of the band, she delivered just what the audience needed – murder ballad and all. As I mentioned before, her voice isn’t particularly bright but distinctively alto and fitting for her songwriting. The short set also showcased the rest of the band, having an instrumental number. All in all, a very enlightening and enjoyable session.