September 8th 2022 will be a date having different resonance to different people. It is going to be left here as the day Alynda Segarra re-imposed as a force for good. It has been a long time since a stage in Birmingham was graced, with memory serving right we had to travel to Leicester to get a piece of The Navigator in 2017. Life on Earth is getting Hurray for the Riff Raff back on track in 2022 and the choice to visit the Hare and Hounds was reflected by a sizeable turnout largely pre-hooked on the music and style of this effusive artist, musician, performer and personified conscience.
Apparently the band behind Alynda had changed since 2017, but memories can't really equate that. What is fresh in the mind is that tonight they played their role to a tee. A static presence that enhances the true spirit of Hurray for Riff Raff with some stellar supportive playing encompassing multiple guitars, keys and a thumping drum beat. The true spirit lies in the subtle animation of a front person immersed in the moment and successful in transmitting an intensity to the enthralled throngs in the midst. Whether taking the sole vocal or guitar accompaniment route, Segarra swaggered with enigmatic class gliding through the bulk of the new album and planting some reminders of a celebrated Riff Raff past.
Albums primed for longevity can take time to feel their way. Life on Earth fell into that category. Maybe knowing a live show was in the offing staggered the full effect, but a near full unfiltered listen has shed a fresh glowing light on a record requiring a little footwork. The power of 'Precious Cargo' elevates with the introduction and subsequent slant on Louisiana's immigration system, while the energy of storming rockers 'Pierced Arrows' and 'Pointed at the Sun' throb in a different stratosphere after spinning around a packed tight venue.
The riches of The Navigater are not forgotten in a set time that stretches to the hour and a quarter mark. A satisfactory time return when you factor in the half hour support slot from likeminded opening act Sister Ray and a modest outlay. However this reflection beams the essence of the performance rather than critiques the mechanism. 'Rican Beach' brought the previous album's worth in the early strides of the show before the encore opened with the punchy vibes of 'Hungry Ghost' and the finale was as fitting as experienced five years ago in Leicester. 'Pa'lante' is a spine tingling emotive chant. Its voice for the afflicted five years ago is still as strong today, and in line in how Life on Earth has deviated the focus to an alternative realm in 2022. For those going back a little further, a glimpse of a Riff Raff past was exposed in 'The Body Electric'. Different days indeed, but with the same outlook and attention to fine-tuned detail.
At the heart of whatever Hurray for the Riff Raff do is the most alluring creative spark. You cannot fail to be mesmerised by the stage presence of Alynda Segarra and the way the band is led through a hazy whirl of styles. Folk, punk, rock 'n' roll, indie and Americana can all put a claim on this band. Ultimately each label is brushed off as this is one person's odyssey to speak, explore, serve and feed the desire of a restless soul. A breathless audience soaks all on offer to secure a slot in the memory bank titled: September 8th 2022 Hurray for the Riff Raff, Birmingham.
