Gig Review: Kristin Hersh Stares Through You And So Do Her Songs

Now and then I like to remember what it was like when people cared for actual gig reviews.

Kristin Hersh

Meow, Wellington

Wednesday, November 15

When I first moved to Wellington, within days of being here, nearly 30 years ago, I took Sam Hunt’s advice and went to a Throwing Muses gig. I was a student. First eager few days. Sam Hunt, a legend, was one of the acts on the bill at Orientation. He was plugging one of the other acts on the bill at Orientation. But of course it was more than that. Hunt loved the band because of their lyrics. He told his crowd that it was no plug, just a fact. And the Muses, who I knew about and had heard a little of - but not a lot - happened to have an album out called University, a too-cute-to-pass-up connection to touring universities.

And god it was good. And Sam was right. Those lyrics. I rushed downtown the next day to buy the album. Bought several others. Started buying Kristin Hersh’s solo albums too. That night when we first saw the Muses, when we first heard Kristin Hersh’s lyrical genius, I was very drunk, and we were given the band’s leftover drinks - simply because we were standing up front, too eager, begging for a pick or a poster of a setlist.