Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers / Ford & Fitzroy
Pianos, 5.20.09

The things that Shilpa Ray sings about contain a fair share of dirty and grime, so it was appropriate that I showed up to Pianos unaware of the remains of shit on my leg from my friend’s pet bird. (He’s pretty sneaky with his defecation.) Along the way to the venue, I also saw a dog that looked impeccably like a bear, and a yuppy douchebag passed out on Ludlow with his cell phone in his hand and open. It was like the stars were aligning for a pretty special night…

And it was special. Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers introduced about 5 news songs during their set on Wednesday, and they were fantastic. It was their 2nd show of their Pianos residency, and the band played like they were settling in and making Pianos their home. As usual, Shilpa Ray and her ferocious set of pipes were the focus, but the 4 men playing behind her deserve props. Jay Braun’s guitars scream with nearly as much fire as Shilpa’s voice, Josh Fleischmann provides a steady flow of explosive beats behind the kit, Nick Hundley’s bass lines bounce with jazzy cool, and Andrew Hoepfner’s keys add an extra atmosphere to the songs. This woman could probably stand behind her harmonium and sing any song ever written, and it’ll sound great. With her band, and stellar songwriting, what she and Her Happy Hookers deliver is beyond great.

Grossly overlooked locals Ford & Fitzroy preceded SR+HHH with an incredibly energetic set characterized by playful guitar interplay and Jay Schneider’s unique vocal delivery. If you like classic indie rockers like Modest Mouse and Built to Spill and haven’t heard these guys, do yourself a favor and get your hands on their debut record Canyons.

Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers have one night left on their Pianos Residency with a show on Wednesday May 27. This one will be headlined by a special guest, that’ll sure make it an extra special night.