Steph Strings played her first solo show in Victoria on July 19th at the Capital Ballroom. Yes, she graced the stage at last year’s Phillips Reverb Backyard Weekender, but this time she got to have the spotlight solely on her. Strings’ is currently touring in support of her new EP Cradle Mountain with stops in Tofino and Vancouver before heading over to the UK and Europe for the late summer and early autumn.
Davers (alias of Dave Lang from Current Swell,) opened the evening with his gentle folk offerings for the mostly seated crowd. His music was a good way to warm up the audience – he’s a local and had plenty of personal stories to tell. He also had the best quote of the night: “Have you ever played a show in flip flops? It’s really slippery.” Lang and his two bandmates breezed through I Watched You Grow Up (about fatherhood) and Garden (inspired by a neighbour’s progress with their yard). They also played a new song that they debuted at Fern Fest and that’s when his music made sense to me. This music thrives in a community led festival of celebrating all the local talents and really building further connection. It was a very Victorian start to the night.
Steph Strings took to the stage at 10 PM and projected this immediate warmth with her smile. The Aussie native played an hour long set of beautiful acoustic folk music while showcasing her instrumental mastery, all woven together with her charismatic storytelling. She joked that her name is “Steph Strings, not Steph Sings” before starting any vocally led song (for the record, her voice has a lovely tone to it.) She gave the backstory to all of her songs before playing them, making the Capital more akin to a friend’s living room than a club. Wholesome Days was inspired by trying to fix a relationship with a loved one and the hardship of getting back to better times. Keep Trying was Strings’ way of giving a hug and some hope to her sister and their ex partner after being emotionally deflated by their break-up. She also told tales of strange blue witches, angrily killing spiders, and feeling grief in the beauty of Switzerland, but that’s a whole other review. For all her skills as a storyteller, Strings’ musical talents are undeniable. With her feet on a bass pedal (forgive my lack of music terminology) and a kick pedal with a tambourine, a harmonica on her lips, and a guitar, she created vibrant songs that filled the space.
The only issue of the evening was the lights cutting off at Strings’ shoulders when she would stand to perform. I’m unsure if it was due to the Capital’s ceilings or a missed bit of marking, but it hit me in an odd way (though it was likely a treat to not have a light glaring in Strings’ eyes during that time.)
All in all, it was an intimate evening where each member of the crowd seemed respectful and present through the majority of the sets. Davers’ is certainly a talented local artist who I hope to see more of in this iteration. Steph Strings is truly an impactful and soulful artist that deserves more recognition and I feel lucky to have covered her twice.
