Concert Review: Givers Give Lessons of Joy At Mercury Lounge
I know we say that, “Everybody wants to be happy,” but that is not true. Some people want to want to be happy. Others, know they should want to be happy but have stopped caring. The Givers are the band for those that are sincerely trying, and are doing everything in their power to celebrate their life even if its gifts are far and few between. At Mercury Lounge, they gave a performance that assured you were The Receivers (pun intended).
I am always talking about energy, and the Givers might as well be giant, floating orbs clapping, spinning, rising, and sparkling across the room as if Harry Potter had released them. They are consistently on 10; shaking their bodies, swinging their instruments, riling hooked harmonies, and booming their verses as if they HAVE to give you, the audience, their soul. If you are not wearing their sentiments and sweat like t-shirts, by the end of the night, then they might call themselves failures. It is rare that artists see their performance as a service; a moment when they become the chefs and waiters of music to serve meals of sound so that you feel spiritually full. Such a humble, exuberant dynamic is led by vocalist Tiffany Lamson and Taylor Guarisco.
GIVERS – Movin On (Live at Preservation Hall 2018)
Lamson and Guarisco’s voice is a like a platter of dragonfruit; prickled and purple in rasp, but sweet in juiced notes that are served over tribal pop silverware, avant-rock plates, and “folked” napkins. There is a natural narration to Lamson’s voice and her delivery that make tracks such as “Collide,” “Ceiling of Plankton,” and “Love Is Like A Fire” feel like rhythmic bursts of flavor/ fables. She approaches the audience with a firm,“Let me tell you something” presence that makes her push her adrenaline/ voice as if she could, again, literally give it to us. Moreover, she encapsulates Givers’ ultimate message: its not only about “Movin On.” It is also about moving forward.
GIVERS – Collide (Official Video)
In song and speech, Givers’ promote the need to let things go. We all have had moments when life asked us to “Take The Loss!,” and placed us in predicaments where the only thing we could do was love ourselves through a loathsome situation. Such instances are not ideal, but they are when we learn how to truly be happy. Givers give a show that make you seize the opportunity to have your own back, which is beautiful. From sound to presence, they make you want to text Life, and say, “Hey, you need a hug?” Honestly, when was the last time you wanted to hug life? For More Information On Givers Click Here.
GIVERS – Love Is Like A Fire (Live From Preservation Hall)
