The Current Sessions™: Dessa's 'Parts of Speech' at the Fitzgerald Theater
by Barb Abney and Dessa
July 11, 2013
On June 22, The Current hosted Dessa's Parts Of Speech release show at The Fitzgerald Theater. The show was held on the evening after a record breaking storm rolled through the Twin Cities. Many in the audience were without power in their homes, but this show couldn't be missed!
Dessa's core band members Joey Van Phiilips, Dustin Kiel, Sean McPherson and Aby Wolf were complimented by the addition of vocalists Aviva Jaye, Caroline Smith, and Lizzo, along with actors, a classical guitarist, and the cellist that Dessa discovered on Pandora who also contributed to the record.
Watch Watch Dessa Deconstructed here. The local hip-hop songstress breaks down her new album word-by-word and beat-by-beat in front of a live audience at Minnesota Public Radio's UBS Forum.
There were times through the evening where you could hear a pin drop because the audience was so vested in every breath and word spoken or sung from the stage. She treated us to the full canon of her musical catalog during her performance. We were introduced to her new songs, treated to her familiar work and given an insight into her life and music through conversations delivered with humility, poise, and a healthy dose of laughter.
One of my favorite moments from Dessa Darling's Parts Of Speech release show at The Fitzgerald Theater was when a listener introduced me to her daughter who then introduced me to her daughter. I can't think of a more apt example of how ageless Dessa's work is.
Set List:
Classical guitar piece
"The Man I Knew"
"Dixon's Girl"
"It's Only Me"
"Annabelle"
"Spin"
"Crow"
"Dear Marie"
"Going Down"
"Icing Burns"
"Sound The Bells"
