A moth danced in circles around the shimmering disco ball at El Cid, evoking images of Tinkerbell fluttering after Peter Pan, as a cascade of excited girls poured down the vibrant, talavera-tiled steps, sprinting toward the eagerly awaited merchandise table. That evening, Ha Vay, the San Francisco-born enchanting songstress, brought her Spellbound Tour to the City of Angels, embracing a captivating theme for this leg: “Secret Garden Romance.”
“I’m so excited!” two young women, dressed in flowing bohemian garb, exclaimed with gleeful energy as they positioned themselves directly beneath the speakers, youthful faces nearly pressed against the dark velvet wall curtains that draped the venue, eager to claim the best view for Ha Vay’s performance.
The room came alive with the voices of many as soon as the doors opened, a kaleidoscope of whimsical Renaissance and faerie attire swirling around. The attendees had braved the Sunset BLVD traffic, their hearts fluttering with anticipation, eager to score special posters and Polaroids.
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Just moments before the doors swung open, I caught a glimpse of the shy and ethereal Ha Vay, who seemed cloaked in an aura of magic. Now, as the concert was about to commence, the bubbling excitement that resonated in the room illuminated under the soft aquamarine lights felt like melodic incantations of dreams and desires, harmonizing with the beats of LCD Soundsystem and the raw energy of Eagles of Death Metal.
Joining Ha Vay was Reggie Pearl with an opening set that was nothing short of enchanting. Accompanied by the mesmerizing Alex Rashad on guitar, Reggie Pearl captivated the crowd with her tantalizing track “Paint My Nails.” With her song “Harpoon,” Reggie candidly expressed that the song was about her “mom saying that I harp over things, I’m like a dog with a bone … ” in the sense that she doesn’t give up or let things go. It was a sweet, light-hearted moment for the singer-songwriter.
Reggie embodied a blend of beauty and grit, her double eyebrow piercing shining under the stage lights, radiating a new-age, Courtney Love essence.
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As a little over 40 minutes slipped by after Reggie Pearl exited the stage, the fathers in attendance impatiently checked their watches as their daughters, adorned with glittering blush and crimped curls, deftly navigated through the throngs of fans, striving for a prime spot closer to the stage. Suddenly, the lights began to flicker and flash, igniting the crowd’s excitement, with one lone girl in the midst of it all unleashing a piercing scream whenever a light shifted, her enthusiasm echoing through the room.
When Ha Vay finally graced the stage, the audience erupted into euphoric cheers; their beloved Siren had brought her magical tour to Los Angeles, cloaked in the night’s whimsical theme of secret garden romance. Adorned in polka dots and delicate pink ribbons, the fairies in attendance embraced their inner soft girls, both in essence and spirit, as the sounds of “Venus in the Sea” and “Siren Spell,” a b-side only featured on the Vertigo Vinyl press of “Venus in the Sea,” filled the room.
Throughout the enchanting performance, Ha Vay fluttered around the stage, bending down to meet her fans eye-to-eye, her voice soft and inviting, like a gentle breeze. She sang of sweet nothings and siren wonders, a “Moon Girl” free to be in a world of her creation. While a couple of technical glitches momentarily obscured her ethereal, delicate tones beneath the music and backing tracks, she persevered with grace, delivering a truly captivating show. From her dreamy new single “Blush,” complete with playful dances and charming wiggles, to her heartfelt cover of “Mojo Pin” by Jeff Buckley beloved song that allowed her to let loose, the night blossomed into a delightful experience, marking Ha Vay’s first headline show in the city and leaving everyone enchanted by the magic she wove on stage.
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