Claire Givens
Live From the Marigny Opera House
(Independent)
MoPodna
I Can Save Me
(Independent)
The trajectory of People Museum over the past few years has been a welcome and necessary addition to the New Orleans music scene. Each member brings a special quality to the table that turns a simple math equation (1 + 1 + 1 + 1 =) into exponential bliss. It will come as no surprise that each of them has other outlets. These solo projects help to better understand them as well as the DNA of People Museum itself.
Claire Givens stripped it all down to her vocals and Laura Fisher’s piano on
Live From The Marigny Opera House. It’s a solemn and soaring experience that harkens to a choral dark night of the soul for an aesthetically pleasing outcome. The Marigny Opera House began as a mid-19th century neighborhood church turned arts center in recent times, which is as analogous as it gets for Givens. Her crystalline singing and turn of a phrase will come as no surprise, but they hit differently, and allow for more focus without an accompanying soundscape. The six-song album was recorded in one or two unedited takes and is a warm somber ride that more vocalists should try, but not all can pull off.
MoPodna is the project of People Museum drummer Aaron Boudreaux. Considering the range of music he’s played over the years, I Can Save Me was somewhat of a sonic wild card for what to expect. If you picture a modern American Kraftwerk or Gary Numan, then you’re in the ballpark. Boudreaux himself takes the mic on most of the songs with special guests on others. Julie Odell provides lovely atmosphere, Tif Lamson brings a stalwart charisma to “sacrifice (rework),” and it’s no surprise that the pairing with Claire Givens on “stay” particularly shines. Call it balance or juxtaposition, but the austerity of Givens’ vocals mixed with eventual bouncing electronics makes for a particularly unique push and pull.
If all this wasn’t enough, People Museum bassist, sousaphonist and composer Charles Lumar II recently premiered his work “Elaine Sun,” which was performed by the LPO. The thoughtful whimsy and mellow gravitas of the piece reminds me of leaves falling from the trees in fall, which, to clarify, is an annual weather season others experience. Lumar has been building a name around the country with his compositions. People Museum co-founder, trombonist Jeremy Phipps claims to have no new work presently, but there is little doubt the multi-talented Phipps is in the lab to debut new music for the future.
People Museum fans who loved Relic, guess what? Notice has been served. Catch them live together and solo when you can.
