REVIEW: The Belle Curves and Sabrina Trueheart Give the Gift of Live & Local Music

Dec 12

12/05/2024 at The Linda, Albany

“...an evening of giving all who attended the gift of local music; and what a gift the excellent pairing of Sabrina Trueheart and The Belle Curves would turn out to be.”

Early winter, whether you love the cold or hate it, has a certain romance to it that simply can’t be denied. Add in some early season snow, some quaint lights and decorations on streetlight poles, and it can really feel like living in a snowglobe on someone’s mantle (we won’t get into the implications on people’s driving).

As the remnants of the first snow of the season were still settling on Central Ave., WAMC and WEXT were gearing up for a little early holiday celebration of their own at The Linda, WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio. The Live & Local series at the Linda is not a new project, as there have been shows at the venue spotlighting local artists for the past couple of years, featuring many of the region’s most up and coming songwriters. What’s so novel about the series is that it is co-hosted by WAMC and WEXT, rivals on the local airwaves but teammates when it comes to what’s most important in this line of work: spotlighting the immense talent of local, independent musicians.

As they cut the holiday playlist (with only the good stuff, such as Elton John’s “Step Into Christmas”), WAMC’s Peter Hughes and WEXT’s Chris Wienk quipped back and forth about the relationship between stations and began an evening of giving all who attended the gift of local music – what a gift the excellent pairing of Sabrina Trueheart and The Belle Curves would turn out to be.

Trueheart was first to the stage, kicking things off with a spirited, “Hello, New Hampshire!” making light of a briefly botched introduction (she’s actually from New Haven, Connecticut). Performing acoustic guitar and vocals with bass guitar backing, she brought a folk/americana singer-songwriter vibe to the stage with pristine and powerful, yet still vulnerable, vocal delivery. Picking away with lighthearted precision, her guitar technique blended with the bass in songs like “Soft” to create some delightfully intricate instrumentation. She showcased her range as well, leaning into the excellent acoustics of The Linda with high notes that were clean, precise, and powerfully resonant.

The personal nature of her lyrics on songs like “Save Me” were rife with deep emotion, while songs like “Skinny Dipping” conjured up the warm nostalgia of a summer fling you thought would never end. On both ends of the spectrum, her lyrics were poignant and heartfelt. She performed a handful of covers throughout the set including renditions of Norah Jones’ “Don’t Know Why” and Joni Mitchell’s “Mild Man” before closing with an acoustic rendition of Nirvana’s “Heart Shaped Box”, a wonderful curveball which she really made her own bending it to her style while also staying true to the original.

Next up was The Belle Curves, performing in the Capital Region for just the second time after a gig at The Hollow last spring. Originally from Suffolk County, Long Island but now residing in Troy, songwriter Delaney Hafener brought a full band with a lovely blend of americana, roots, and indie rock, even occasionally delving into some country and incorporating elements of funk. Reminiscent of bands like Dawes and Hurray for the Riff Raff, The Belle Curves had a fun and charming presence that made audience members want to get in on the boot stomping, knee slapping, toe tapping hootenanny of a hoedown.

Hafener, on bass and vocals, put on a great performance leading the band as frontwoman. Her bass playing was sharp, made all the more impressive because it didn’t come at the expense of vocal performance or stage presence. She’s got it down, and delivered an infectious energy with a dynamic and impressive vocal range. That was showcased even further in the middle part of the set when they stripped things down to just Hafener and her lead guitarist, who just so happens to be her father. The family duo played some new songs with Hafener also hopping onto acoustic guitar, showing the flexibility of the group to go from funky full band country-rock dance party to stripped down, emotional ballads. The powerful vocals and heatland-esque acoustic guitar mixed well with the bright electric guitar tone to create a unique ambience. They treated the audience to a fun and impressive showcase, and songs like “Hand-Rolled” and “Topo Chico” demonstrated their songwriting spans the entire range of the americana genre.

The Live & Local series at The Linda has become a vital part of the 518 music landscape, and this edition was a great example of what it provides the community. It’s an opportunity for fans to see what local, independent artists can do when they’re given the chance to not open for a larger artist, but to be the whole damn show. This was just another tour de force on how capable the artists who ply their trade in the Capital Region are of doing just that.