The Seeker of Good Songs
Well-Known Member
(Morrissey mention in bold below.)
spectrumculture.com
Concert Review: Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter
The black grand piano sat centerstage with a pair of microphones pointing into its body like some wild autopsy. Shortly before nine, the blonde-haired woman in tight black clothes and white socks took the stage, placed something on top of the piano’s strings and then took a seat. Each time she struck a key, something rattled in the piano, a sputtering noise that added an earthly quality to each chord. Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter then began to sing “ALL OF MY FRIENDS ARE GOING TO HELL,” her astounding voice resonating from the theater’s confines.
Then Hayter confessed that she was quite sick with a “very, very high fever” but since she didn’t want to let her fans down, she would try her best to play a truncated show.
Best known for her stage persona Lingua Ignota, Hayter retired that portion of her career in 2022, after realizing that reliving past traumas on stage was not the best way to exorcize trauma. In 2023, she released Saved! under a new moniker, Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter, an album that mixed gospel standards with original material. And yes, Hayter was ordained online as a minister.
The Portland show lasted about 45 minutes and the audience shouted supportive messages to Hayter during the nine songs she played. It was an intense three-quarters of an hour as Hayter tackled traditionals such as “Idumea” and “The Wayfaring Stranger” along with originals such as the set-closing “I WILL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU.”
Despite her illness, Hayter’s voice sounded excellent, conveying all the anguish inherent on Saved! Perhaps the fever exacerbated that agony and her voice never wavered much until the end of the performance. She didn’t say much to the crowd, pausing sometimes between each song to work up the resolve to carry on. When Hayter finally left the stage, the lights came on even before she hit the wings.
Deciding to perform when ill must have been difficult. Morrissey has canceled with less notice and for less legitimate reasons. But Kristin Hayter still seems to believe that suffering for art is a good thing. Whether or not performing while very ill is the best idea, Hayter made a valiant effort and rewarded her Portland fans with a concert that was chilling, cathartic and possibly, for some, healing. Hopefully, Hayter also absorbed some of that repairing energy, speeding her to a quick recovery.
Concert Review: Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter - Spectrum Culture
Whether or not performing while very ill is the best idea, Hayter made a valiant effort and rewarded her Portland fans with a concert that was chilling, cathartic and possibly, for some, healing.
spectrumculture.com
Concert Review: Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter
The black grand piano sat centerstage with a pair of microphones pointing into its body like some wild autopsy. Shortly before nine, the blonde-haired woman in tight black clothes and white socks took the stage, placed something on top of the piano’s strings and then took a seat. Each time she struck a key, something rattled in the piano, a sputtering noise that added an earthly quality to each chord. Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter then began to sing “ALL OF MY FRIENDS ARE GOING TO HELL,” her astounding voice resonating from the theater’s confines.
Then Hayter confessed that she was quite sick with a “very, very high fever” but since she didn’t want to let her fans down, she would try her best to play a truncated show.
Best known for her stage persona Lingua Ignota, Hayter retired that portion of her career in 2022, after realizing that reliving past traumas on stage was not the best way to exorcize trauma. In 2023, she released Saved! under a new moniker, Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter, an album that mixed gospel standards with original material. And yes, Hayter was ordained online as a minister.
The Portland show lasted about 45 minutes and the audience shouted supportive messages to Hayter during the nine songs she played. It was an intense three-quarters of an hour as Hayter tackled traditionals such as “Idumea” and “The Wayfaring Stranger” along with originals such as the set-closing “I WILL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU.”
Despite her illness, Hayter’s voice sounded excellent, conveying all the anguish inherent on Saved! Perhaps the fever exacerbated that agony and her voice never wavered much until the end of the performance. She didn’t say much to the crowd, pausing sometimes between each song to work up the resolve to carry on. When Hayter finally left the stage, the lights came on even before she hit the wings.
Deciding to perform when ill must have been difficult. Morrissey has canceled with less notice and for less legitimate reasons. But Kristin Hayter still seems to believe that suffering for art is a good thing. Whether or not performing while very ill is the best idea, Hayter made a valiant effort and rewarded her Portland fans with a concert that was chilling, cathartic and possibly, for some, healing. Hopefully, Hayter also absorbed some of that repairing energy, speeding her to a quick recovery.
