With her elfin, pre-raphaelite barefoot on the floorboards presence, expressively emotive vocals, plus her searing guitar playing artistry, Hannah Wicklund is almost the complete package and she’s not yet out of her twenties. One has to salute her desire to pay her dues in dive bars and small clubs which has gifted herself and her dedicated growing throng of fans with an up close and personal musical relationship. As much and more is captured on this double disc show, recorded in March 2024, at the legendary Californian Troubadour club whilst on her Hell In The Hallway tour in which this seasoned performer played a special show confidently drawing songs from the bountiful well of her first couple of albums.
From Hell In The Hallway’s opening tune, it’s abundantly clear Wicklund has the entire room onside. Her rapport with her febrile fan base adrenalizes this recording and puts the listener right in the middle of the room. Hide And Seek and new single Mama Said roll her rock of music around this room to tumultuous effect. Songbird Sing and Shadowboxes And Porcelain Faces reveal her sweet side whilst Jam In E Minor details Wicklund’s fizzing guitar tone.
As ever with a hot newish talent on a rapidly developing career curve, Hannah’s song-craft could be more grabby with stronger hooks and melodies, but this takes time to nurture and fully mature. And time is something that Wicklund has on her side. Her next studio album should define her progress in a current refreshingly busy marketplace of female singer-songwriter guitar-slingers.
Words by Paul Davies
