Concert Review: Kacy Hill @ Songbyrd Music House (5/29/24)

Kacy Hill started her headlining tour the correct way, by having the first show in DC. She performed at Songbyrd Music House on May 29th, to what, by all appearances on the inside, looked like a sell out.

Kacy is touring for her fourth album, BUG (via Nettwerk), released this past May. She’s an indie pop artist, zooming around the edges of dream pop, with elements of R&B and electronica. Kacy described the album in the press release, ‘BUG was made over the course of two years and became an outlet to say what I had been silently feeling in my relationship and life as a whole. Making this album marked a distinct change in my mindset as I shifted away from specific expectations, and instead focused on the curiosity and joy I felt while making music.’

It had been about 2-1/2 years between albums, her last was 2021’s Simple, Sweet, and Smiling, and aside from a pandemic, Kacy told us during the set a bit more about why the gap and the origins of the album itself (paraphrased a bit): ‘Last time I toured in this area in 2022 I was in Baltimore, and there were only like 20 people. I didn’t know if I wanted to do it [be a musician] anymore. It’s been rough, and I thought maybe I should be a software engineer, dabbling in coding as you do!… but I don’t think I like coding that much (big laughs), but I do love this and it turned into BUG while I was in a long-term relationship and the songs seem to speak to the dwindling of that relationship.’ She told the story partially in reference to how appreciative she was at the size of the probably sold out crowd. Maybe we gave her the energy to crush the show while her energy also bolstered us further to enjoy it. A little quid pro quo we can all use from time to time.

After a superb opening set by May Rio (who may be Emma Watson’s twin?), Kacy kicked off her set with “No One” from BUG. It’s an upbeat song about being afraid of change, while also not being quite sure what you want. The vocals sounded a bit drowned out in the beginning, but got much clearer as the song progressed. She performed six straight songs from BUG, of the eight she played from the album, before delving into her earlier work. Many of the songs from the new album were produced by rock/hip hop artist Bartees Strange, currently based in DC.

Next came “You Know I Still Love You”, where I had a moment thinking I was hearing an Alison Sudol (aka A Fine Frenzy) song. I wasn’t, but the early dreamy sounds and smooth vocals put me in a tranquil mood, before the chorus, where Kacy gave everything she had and belted up towards the myriad of glistening disco balls hanging above our heads*. I almost want to say this was my favorite song of the night, but many others deserve to be in the conversation, so let’s just say it’s good.

Kacy first released music in 2014, and has four albums and one EP so far. She’s originally from Phoenix, Arizona, and was a backup dancer for Kanye West on his The Yeezus Tour, when he discovered her music. She had just released a single at the beginning of the tour, and he signed her right away.

The next song was “Damn”, which speaks to telling someone off for not being who you thought they would be. The lyrics start almost matter-of-fact, but as the chorus climbs in tempo ‘Damn I wish you’d wanna, be the man I thought that you were gonna’, a beseeching tone grabs hold and doesn’t let go.

At one point during “Listen to You”, a song she said is about ‘being broken hearted, disappointed really’, Kacy pulled out a saxophone and solved world peace with those dulcet saxy tones.

She was joined on stage with two backing band members, Val on the drums and Daniel on the guitar and keyboard. On the wall behind the stage, videos of insects; like butterflies, caterpillars, ants, and bees (and spiders! since arachnids need love too), looped in constant motion, giving life to the album’s name. But in reality, as Kacy told us, her nickname as a child was Bug, hence the true origin of the album’s title.

“Everybody’s Mother”, from 2020’s Is It Selfish If We Talk About Me Again, was the first of seven songs she played from that album. It speaks to having the energy of everybody’s mother, giving all you got, but it still may not be enough.

Later came “Simple, Sweet, and Smiling” from the album of the same name, which ascends so steeply into dream pop that the rush was palpable. The message seems to highlight that not all of us are cut-out for the big time or the limelight, and it’s okay to live now in simple terms and not just in anticipation of something more.

The final song of the main set was “Arm’s Length”, where Kacy informed us that she ‘never plays this song’ but she was feeling us. We’ll assume the title isn’t how she was feeling about us, because she once again belted the chorus to the disco balls*.

She returned for two songs in the encore, both from Is It Selfish If We Talk About Me Again. First came the dance-worthy “Porshe” (and many succumbed), and then “Dinner”, about wishing someone could feel love, the same way you feel about them.

Based on the shared energy and excitement of the Songbryd crowd, I’d say you have a strong case to check out Kacy’s work if you haven’t already. And pick up a copy of BUG because Kacy absolutely should continue being a musician, and we’re here to tell her.

Setlist