Trina Hamlin & Natalia Zukerman Return

If you didn’t make it last year, don’t miss out again. I have no idea whether this show will sell out, but I’d recommend buying tickets in advance. They’re cheaper online, and you’ll be guaranteed a spot.

Trina Hamlin

The first time I saw Trina Hamlin, I knew nothing of her, save that she’d played (in the backs of trucks and such) with Susan Werner. I was optimistic to find some new music in my favorite vein. I expected girly pop/folk — maybe a single-album singer-songwriter best applied as a Saturday-afternoon-cleaning soundtrack.

What I discovered was the most shocking under-the-radar phenom of a stand-alone talent I’ve ever seen. Trina’s mastery of harmonica is breathtaking, and she’s got a bold, sexy voice with stage presence to match.

Trina Hamlin’s songs sneak up on you. Low-key strumming intros lull you into thinking, “This song might be *nice.* Reminds me of my ex-girlfriend. This might be a good time to beat the rush to the restroom.” But before that thought is complete, your attention is snagged. The voice gets edgy. Then it bursts through with consuming intensity that compels you helplessly to laugh, cry, or dance.

The incredible thing about a Trina Hamlin show is how entertaining it is. She doesn’t jolt you by force out of that zone of new-artist neutrality. She tricks you out of it, starting slow. A track that makes you think, “Oh, I can dig her voice,” followed by, “Hmm. She’s not just average on the guitar.” She gets her hooks in, playing the harmonica in a way that makes you want to see what else she can do. Then the acrobatics begin.

When she’s on guitar, she rocks. When she’s on the harp, she rocks. It’s when she’s a singing, dancing, songwriting one-Minnesotan band that she’ll have you giving her top spot on your iTunes most-played and highest priority on your year-round concert-going schedule.

Natalia Zukerman

Nothing compares to masterful application of voice as instrument. Vocally, Natalia Zukerman alternates twang, sweetness, and vibrato to deliver a captivating performance.

Natalia can make the guitar do things that guitars weren’t born for. She spans genres, creating undeniably folk moments of wringing sensitivity and hinting at banjo-battle-worthy bluegrass. She manages to keep it all fun and engaging, far from the realm of weirdness that confines creative contemporaries to tiny niches.

She’s been compared to Jenny Lewis, but the likeness is only clear to me in the sense that they’re both absolutely solid performers, and kind of genius. Zukerman’s songwriting is more clever, reminiscent of Jill Sobule – just as intimate but less silly.

Natalia Zukerman with Trina Hamlin and Alicia Romano
When: Wednesday, April 22nd – Doors at 6/Show at 7
Where: Club Cafe – 56 South 12th St. – South Side
How Much: $10/$8 Online in Advance
Who: 21+

The Videos

If that’s not enough to convince you this show is worth $10, going out on a Wednesday, and parking in South Side, check out these videos.

Loved Like That

This is the show that’s coming to Pittsburgh. Natalia Zukerman and Trina Hamlin each steal a show on their own. But together they create an atmosphere of unparalleled fun, friendliness, and interactivity. It’s showcased in this video. If you’re in a hurry, just zip to the 2 minute mark to see what I’m talking about. This Wednesday’s show is sure to a bubble of captivating entertainment in which you savor the moments and lament the ending.

Down to the Hollow

Down to the Hollow is the only song that’s ever compelled me to make a comparison to Melissa Ferrick’s Drive. And this isn’t even a song about gettin’ down. Where Ferrick is overtly sexual and raunchy, Hamlin is understated and natural. This is a track that drips sensuality without trying. The driving tempo and smoky vocals convey reigned-in intensity that escapes at all the right points. And the harmonica’s hints of gasping have an emotional impact reminiscent of piano-pedal accents in the negative space of a Tori Amos song.

Optimize Your Boycott

Due to all the amazonfail / glitchmyass action, there’s been an abundance of boycotting initiative.

There’s plenty of talk about deleting accounts and canceling orders. But getting the most out of your online boycott efforts requires a bit of SEO 101. This list is written using Amazon as an example, but it’s applicable to all sorts of online boycotting activity.

The negative: One site is only as powerful as we the people make it. (To an extent, of course)

1) Stop Buying – The clear first step. If you don’t like a company, don’t send them your money. But canceling your orders isn’t enough.

2) Negative On-Site Reviews – Reviews on product descriptions can have a big impact on potential buyers. This seems to be going swimmingly with regard to amazonfail, seeing as how Amazon’s #1 Ranked work of bigotry has achieved a shocking number of nasty tags and reviews.

3) Negative Off-Site Reviews - Read something vom-tastic? Blog about it. And if you agree with someone else’s negative reviews, take the time to post your kudos in a comment.

4) Don’t Link – One of the reasons Amazon has achieved such renown is due to its recognition as a resource. When you link to something, you give it a nod for its relevance. So if you’re linking to illustrate a point, do so sparingly and consider the necessity.   Search engines take links very seriously.

5) Remove Old Links – Really hate an organization? Go back through your blog archives and edit your links. Rerouting your reading recommendations to independent bookseller sites can give those sites a ranking boost – and subtract one from Amazon.

6) Disappear – A mass exodus of account-holders sends a big message. But another indicator of relevance is time spent on site. If you spent 4 hours feverishly searching Amazon the day amazonfail hit, Google won’t know it’s because you’re angry. They’ll just see that you visited 783 pages. If you hate something online, don’t grace it with your attention. This one is hard to balance with the posting of negative reviews and such, but it comes down to preference. You can do your dirty work, then make yourself scarce.

The positive: Everything else is only as powerful as we the people make it. (To an extent, of course)

1) Spread the Love – The price to you of Amazon’s convenience is its market dominance. It might take a few extra minutes or cents, but there’s a comparable alternative for almost everything online. There are 10 top spots (by default) in a Google search. There’s no good reason 10 companies shouldn’t share the wealth.

2) Positive On-Site Reviews - Take the time to review the things you love. This gives potential buyers more insight into what’s good about a product. And it lets vendors know which products will cause a stir if they’re removed.

3) Positive Off-Site Reviews – If you’re a blogger or creator of any other sort of online content, mentioning the things you love can give them more play in the online conversation. It can also help them receive more attention from the search engines.

4) Link Carefully – Whenever you create content, giving out links is one of the most powerful things you can do. If you love an author, make it a point to link to his/her website. And when you recommend a product, think carefully about the “buy it here” link. The vendor site you choose stands to directly benefit.

5) Be Present – If you love a site, make it a point to stay in touch. Even if you faithfully read the content you receive via RSS, your favorite sites will benefit from an on-site visit from time to time.

6) Click Ads – For smaller online players, on-site advertising can be a big deal. While ads are sometimes annoying, consider their importance. If you like a site, consider their ads. And if you really care, shop backwards. When you’re ready to buy, make it a point to begin the path to your purchase with an ad-click on a site you want to support.

7) Be Social - Linking to gush-worthy sites in your tweets, away messages, and e-mails can be good for them. When you’re just conversing, add a link. If a link is placed in an email and no one clicks it…

I’m a big-picture thinker. As such, I don’t really know whether a boycott of Amazon is necessary or advisable. I’m not personally boycotting or advocating for one. But if you’re going to boycott something online, you might as well make it worthwhile. Keeping these things in mind over the long term will make you a more aware shopper and a more effective, educated online consumer.