On April 9th, Cass McCombs performed at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, joined by Hand Habits as the opening act. There was a very friendly, laid-back crowd. I was probably one of the youngest folks there. But that did not stop the rest from tapping their feet, cheering, and swaying along to the music of both acts, making for a mellow yet fun atmosphere.
Hand Habits is the project of Meg Duffy, a songwriter from LA, who recently released their new, delightfully lush indie-folk album “Blue Reminder”. A song that was fun to hear live was “Dead Rat”. While the title brings up some less-than-pleasant imagery, the lyrics are a touching exploration of grief. Paired with lovely guitar melodies that evoke the feeling of seeing a once-beloved empty storefront. The sense that something important was once there, and now all that’s left to do is to perhaps write a song about it. Another standout song is “Bluebird of Happiness”, which sounds almost like a lullaby. The guitar and snappy percussion breathing a jaunty, lively tone into the track, while excellent, Mitski-esque vocal harmonies shine in the album version (“Be The Cowboy”, anyone?).
The main act, Cass McCombs, got psychedelic with it. One of the band’s many hallmarks is its strange, clever lyrics. Cass McCombs is a bit like if The Beatles got really into the literature of Franz Kafka. For example, “Asphodel”, an upbeat-sounding song with a twangy bassline, and drums reminiscent of the steady rhythm of a train on its tracks. Yet don’t let the tone fool you. The lyrics mention “the darkened spot where our bodies once laid” and “tape recorder turning beneath the frost”, evoking the feeling of a nuclear winter. “Bum Bum Bum” is another favorite of mine built ona haunting, echoing guitar line and a catchy titular segment (“bum bum bum”). But, it doesn’t shy away from darker societal themes in its lyrics. Most of the songs that Cass McCombs performed were from his 2025 album “Interior Live Oak”, taking the audience on a stroll through various moods and genres, from guitar-driven tunes that made the crowd bob their head to introspective, blues-influenced ballads. Altogether, the band is excellent to experience live!
Review and photos by electrophonicz
