Sarah Hallman “Likely”
Sarah Hallman hit the ground running, launching her new album Likely with an effortlessly professional release party. Sarah’s sound is emotionally charged but still cool and collected, and her slick backup band does a solid job of filling in the gaps without overwhelming the lead.
Sarah and lead guitarist Brian Simms have the comraderie of long-time associates, weaving their lines together to the point where it’s difficult to tell one from the other. The rhythm section kept the band tight and focused.
But it’s Sarah’s voice, melody and lyrics that anchor the show.
There’s a weary maturity in her words and music that strikes you the moment she opens her mouth, and despite her natural shyness she has an easy rapport with her audience. The set, about an hour in total length, didn’t overly focus on the new record as the band played songs from her earlier records as well as a few unrecorded selections.
The high quality of material on Likely and new tunes like “Old Country” (not featured on the album) show that she’s got more than a few great records in the pipeline.
The Black Tomato was an appropriate venue for Hallman and her band, but it would be interesting to see what she could do in a bigger room with a larger audience.
Tags: black tomato, CD release, folk music, music review
