amen! – hemlock concert and EP review

Sidney Parish

Photo by Maria Rosa

Sunday night in an offbeat bar, I’m here to attend hemlock‘s EP release party in New Orleans, Louisiana. Saturn Bar is an eclectic dive bar–two stories high and accompanied by an attached backyard patio. Some may say it looks run down and raggedy, but I like to think of it as a well lived-in bar and venue. The paint is chipping away from the wall and staircase, the upstairs is equipped with a random assortment of chairs and movie theater-esque seating. The remainder of the venue is adorned with cheetah print booths, arbitrary paintings and movie posters, and an errant disco ball hanging from the ceiling. Regardless of it all, Saturn Bar is bustling with anticipation and excitement.

hemlock is slated to go on third out of four artists total, so I decided to relax and take in the two artists before them: an acoustic set from local musician Thomas Dollbaum and a Portland-based band touring alongside hemlock, Laith. Dollbaum delivered a captivating performance, singing a collection of indie-rock songs with folk-inspired undertones. He had a very heartwarming, nostalgic sound that evoked an overwhelming desire to fall into a deep introspection. Following Dollbaum, Laith took the stage, continuing the folk/country-rock vibe. hemlock provided supporting vocals for a handful of his songs, but the duo’s performance for “Songs For Levon,” was especially mesmerizing. Their voices blended seamlessly, creating a harmonious blend that felt like the final piece of a puzzle falling into place. Laith’s raspy vocals paired beautifully with Hemlock’s soft, enchanting voice, leaving me completely in awe.

Finally, the moment arrived for hemlock to take the stage. As I mentioned earlier, Saturn Bar is a neighborhood dive bar, meaning the doors remain open during performances, people come and go as they please, and the bartender continues to do their job. However, the instant Hemlock began their performance, they effortlessly commanded the atmosphere with their brief yet enthralling set. Their presence was so palpable that even the bartender seemed to handle her tasks with a hushed and delicate touch, mirroring hemlock’s gentle vocals. They kicked off their performance with a recorded message, instantly stirring emotions within me (I must confess, I have a soft spot for recorded messages and the use of voicemails in EPs and albums). Their subsequent performance was nothing short of masterful, captivating the roomful of attendees who sat in silence, enraptured by the raw emotion emanating from Hemlock and their voice.

At only 16 minutes long, amen! is a profound work of art. As stated by hemlock, this project is “intended to be listened [through] in full, as some kind [of] prayer,” and after listening through about 10 times, I feel cleansed and healed. The EP opens strong with “widest wing,” capturing hemlock’s phenomenal lyricism and songwriting skills. It possesses some of my favorite lyrics off of this project, such as, “a moth circling a lamp that isn’t on / to believe so blindly in the moon” and the final line, “you’ve changed my life more than I knew anybody could.” hemlock’s voice fluctuates between high and soft, like a gentle breeze building the clouds, to resonant and guttural, raw emotion bursting forth from the depths of their core. The second track, “good wind,” instills a sense of gratitude and optimism. The song builds steadily, culminating in a crescendo that feels like a monumental wave crashing, underscored by the lyrics, “I think it’s a good wind gonna blow.” Tracks 3 and 4, “bones” and “be/long” respectively, delve into deeper, more somber themes, portraying heartbreak in an agonizing yet beautifully poetic manner. hemlock possesses a unique talent for conveying the painful beauty of heartbreak, leaving me almost dizzy with emotion. “be/long” is probably my favorite off of the EP, another beautiful display of lyricism as they sing,

“and i chose you as family

now a glow from deep inside of me

is ripe for the reclaiming

a future begs renaming

to give despite the taking

to let go of it all

may we land somewhere soft“

On track 5, “eleanor,” hemlock’s vocals arguably shine brightest. The song in totality is reminiscent of the hazy transition from spring to summer. I particularly appreciate the subtle inclusion of background chatter and birdsong, adding to its cohesive and enchanting quality. Experiencing this song live was as mesmerizing as hearing it for the first time. Finally, amen! ends with “prayer,” a track that genuinely feels like a religious experience. hemlock’s voice is reduced to a mere whisper against a backdrop of loud, humming guitar strums and a droning soundscape, creating a profound sense of prayer or meditation. Whether the prayer is directed towards themself or someone else remains ambiguous, but what is certain is that it is truly is a miracle to keep going, to keep asking, and to keep finding out.