SXSW Bands – Hesta Prynn
March 10th, 2009 - by Eddie
Against my better judgement, I clicked onto Hesta Prynn’s Myspace page to get a taste of her solo project away from Northern State. Like most music fans who were initially sucked into the “OMG, it’s a girl version of the Beastie Boys” hype back in 2002, I’ve constantly expected better things from this band aside of the hip-hop shrieking that took place on records and on stage.
They were like the Beastie Boys in rhythm and style, but you always felt they never grew past that. The last album I heard was “All City,” which was All Crap, save for one song at the end called “Summer Never Ends,” a strange hybrid of NS’s style, but with the added element of a low, monotone lyrical sense that, when compared to everything else they had done, sounded fresh.
So here, almost 7 years later, I’m giving one-third of the band another chance with Hesta Prynn’s forray into the solo world with three songs off her Myspace and some gigs at the upcoming SXSW.
The word? That sound from “Summer Never Ends” is back.
It isn’t all hip-hop, nor is it all pop. Prynn’s managed to strip down the music to its essentials and released tracks that sound honest and genuine. Maybe a laid-back Tegan and Sara if you’re into that sort of comparison (which may make sense since she wrote them while on tour with the band).
Prynn, who’s being billed as her being “in” Civil Shepherd, will be dropping down at the SXSW on Wednesday March 18 at 1 a.m., which is a prime spot for a gig.
Check out the song. Yes, it’s partly hip-hop, but sans shrieking.
Hesta Prynn in Civil Shepherd – Seven Sisters
