Shilpa Ray and her Happy Hookers: Concrete forest
Shilpa Ray makes powerful, dark melodies in the spirit of PJ Harvey with a full band. She is homegrown NYC and will floor you with her live show. Shilpa Ray has a singular prowess straddling the stage playing an Indian harmonium and howling sharp lyrics in a gorgeous bluesy moan. She commands a fire-y chemistry with her band. They easily build tension throughout their set and leave the listener awestruck, having bended to the whim of a petite music mistress.
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Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers shared the stage with Patti Smith at Brooklyn’s late great Southpaw. There, Shilpa owned the room and wooed new fans through minor melodies and jazzy vocals rife with political punch. Her slight frame wields a heavy message through heady lyrics and new takes on old struggles. A video made this past fall heeds a feminine battle cry in the Brooklyn streets. Depicted are hard-boiled women taking charge of the reproductive debate with stilettos and whips, captured in black-and-white as a silent film.
Though her sound and image are dark and treacherous, Shilpa’s music and presence exude that cat woman kind of sexy that couldn’t care less what you think; all claws, cat eyes and Gotham.
Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers play Shea Stadium BK, Thursday, March 7 @8pm
