"This is really nerve-wracking. I've never played by myself before," said Katie Toupin, one-fourth of Houndmouth and the co-owner of her NuLu clothing store Bermuda Highway.
She was seated in front of a crowd of about 60 playing one song during Bermuda Highway's first in store performance. Although the shop serves as a clothing store, Toupin said when it opened that she hoped to have performances in the space and last night was the first try at that.
The clothing store is musical on a regular basis when it carries Third Man Records (Jack White's record shop) products and hosts a special artist of the month filled with music and items curated by some of her favorite musician friends.
Yes, the performance was a concert. There were people playing music and spectators were watching. But the event last night had such a close knit bond it would be wrong to say there was much distance, proximal or emotional, between the musician and his or her audience. It felt like a coffeehouse at times, a fireside circle at others, and finally a house party.
Toupin's performance was not advertised and, from her expressions, spur of the moment. Others, although advertised, also felt extemporaneous. Scott Moore, whom you may know from The 23 String Band but will soon know from his new band Niles Foley, took a poll before his set to gauge if the audience wouldn't mind hearing a composition from Bach on the fiddle. Justin Paul Lewis scatted at the end of one of his songs. Zach Penland invited local rapper and friend Josh Woods into his set to bust a freestyle verse.
Bermuda Highway's event last night was surprising but also so Louisville at the same time. It was some of the best musicians in the oddest of places. Of course, you would find a folk rock fiddler playing Bach in the middle of a clothing store. That's Louisville.
Here's to more music at Bermuda Highway.
Photos by Will Ford
