When the Hiss Golden Messenger show at Webster Hall on November 14th seemed to end abruptly, the crowd suspected something was amiss. One of the most generous bands to grace a stage anywhere, Hiss is known to love an encore, to read the room just right. We later discovered they’d been unceremoniously rushed to conclude their set by the venue powers that be, which resulted in the harsh brightening of the house lights and a soundtrack of exit music to reassure fans the show was, in fact, over. While this was an absolute travesty, particularly after frontman M.C. Taylor offered some clarification through an Instagram post which included some real treats that would have been played in an encore, the guys gave us a full 90-minute performance as good as any we’ve ever seen from them.
On the heels of the darker turn of an album, Terms of Surrender, Taylor and his band have continued to spread light with this tour. You don’t leave a Hiss show feeling heavier than when you arrived. You leave with a weight lifted, your heart aglow, and this night was no exception. Playing a mixed bag of tunes off the new record and many past ones, they covered a lot of ground, from classic booty shakers like “I’m a Raven (Shake Children)” and “Southern Grammar,” to uplifting beams of light like “Bright Direction (You’re a Dark Star Now)” and “Jenny of the Roses.” Terms of Surrender opener “I Need a Teacher” was a particular standout thanks to Taylor’s deeply felt dedication of it to all the public school teachers in the room (of which there were many). Some proceeds from ticket sales even benefitted a local North Carolina organization to support public educators.
Joined, of course, by the beloved Phil Cook (as usual there were plenty of shoutouts to Cook from the crowd) on keys, harmonica and guitar, the arrangements were full and bright. With Alex Bingham on bass and Alex Smith on drums, and Chris Boerner on guitar, plus a bit of saxophone to round things out, this was a truly memorable lineup of Hiss. We may have to wait until next year to hear their take on the Grateful Dead’s “Brown-Eyed Women” or Terms of Surrender gem “Happy Birthday, Baby” (all part of the intended encore), but this night will keep our hearts full until then.
