Who said disco is dead? Larger-than-life Brooklyn trio Say She She are single-handedly keeping the spirit of the genre alive and well. Melding feminine grace and riotous energy in their meticulously crafted harmonies, the girl group is bringing the once-mocked genre into the modern era with sizzling takes and melodic twists. They fit right in amid the vintage glamour of the Hollywood Theatre for a Friday night boogie with an enthusiastic crowd of revelers.
Chameleonic party band Katzù Oso, helmed by LA-based musician Paul Hernandez, set a fun tone for the night with his wide-ranging set. One moment, they were delivering a Daft Punk–meets–Herbie Hancock vibe mash-up, a marathon of a song complete with robotic vocals and a strident jazz clip. Next, we were transported to a woodsy folk ballad dedicated to his girlfriend, Julia. Then we were beamed to the dance floor with his mega hit that’s been making the rounds on TikTok for years, “Kiss U Better.”
Further flipping through the karaoke menu in his mind, the frontman delivered a very Latino “Amantes,” grito and all. Further flipping the tables of expectation, I’d never before heard a cumbia standard peppered with the battle cry of “Fuck ICE.” As casually as he inserted this in, Hernandez got a little choked up when he followed the song by talking about how awful it is to see this happening to people in his circles. “We’re here for you,” a voice in the crowd shouted in solidarity.
Carrying through musings on recent upheaval south of the border, the Say She She girls declared, “We had to get out of the States!” as they took over the stage for their first-ever Vancouver show. They washed away the turmoil of the political climate with a bubbling expression of heart. Some of their songs stand as explicit reminders to hold onto these spaces of joy, as the tyrants can’t take them all.
Rocking their signature oversized blazers — all shoulder pads and bling — the Brooklyn trio brought an exciting stage presence from the start. They didn’t miss a beat despite having a substitute member, Alicia, standing in for Sabrina Cunningham. The two remaining band leaders, Piya Malik and Nya Brown, had no issues carrying the show, with a clearly classically trained replacement sliding in seamlessly.
The seductive vocal prowess of “Forget Me Not” snatched the crowd’s attention and inspired a sing-along to wrap the tune. Their funkadelic disco emerged as if from a time capsule, yet with a fresh and feminist edge. The close-knit crew had worked out cute choreo to match each number, inspired by the legendary girl groups of bygone eras. The singers wove magnificent three-part harmonies, trading off and coming together in aural delights and thrilling high notes.
The title track of their latest album, Cut & Rewind, hit sharp and punchy, with a campy, kinetic vocal hook. Their backing band brought the energy: the guitarist shredding in a burst of electric mayhem, the bassist slapping the strings as hard as I’ve ever seen, and the keyboardist turning the dials on wowing sounds. But the band brought more substance than just flashy musicianship in their latest release. The women also conveyed important female empowerment messaging in “She Who Dares,” calling for “a worldwide ban on the dangerous level of the toxic plan.”
When they reached “I Believe in Miracles,” the band declared the song to be one of their favourites and made a humble request of the audience: that everyone turn around and dance with each other like an old-school disco. Making their dream come true, the crowd happily acquiesced. The spotlight hit the disco ball, and the venue came to life with hustle and flow. Further participation was asked as they delivered messages from the stars, getting the crowd to create a celestial lightscape with their flashlights, sending us soaring to a new astral plane.
The ladies kept the party going for a craved encore, decrying, “How could we resist you lot?” They brought oodles of fun in “C’est Si Bon,” turning the room back into a disco dancefloor fantasy — unprompted this time. Their clever lyricism and bouncy beats brought the crowd to its knees. The final blow was the astonishing melodic licks of “Reeling,” pushing the performance over the top in the best possible way. The band hit it hard till the final note, playing the chic women off and closing out a dizzying night out.
Words by: Krysten Maier
