See Jesca Hoop at the Hotel Cafe on Feb. 5
The first time I saw Matt Pond PA was at the Troubadour a couple years ago, so I was delighted that they were returning. You expect most great bands that play the Troub to be at the El Rey or The Fonda next time around, but there are a handful of bands that have loyalty to the size and sound of the Troubadour.
I was curious to see Jesca Hoop (factoid: she used to nanny Tom Waits kids) open the night as I had heard a couple songs of hers on KCRW. Her sweet poppy music translated great live, but her personality was the most enchanting part of her performance. Jescas banter with the crowd in between songs was the perfect balance of humor, quirk and modesty. Genuinely charming, I soaked in her good spirited tunes and as she left the stage, I found myself wishing she would play just a little longer.
She wouldnt, however, as headliners Matt Pond PA proceeded to round out the cheerful night. Allmusic.com categorizes them as chamber pop, a fitting description that one would be hard-pressed to not enjoy. They played a nice mix of new material from their recent release, Last Light, as well as expected crowd pleasers from albums past like “Halloween and Several Arrows Later.
