Discovering Artists at Song Swap Night
We discover artists we hadn't previously seen, and artists discover themselves
Right before Christmas 2023, we attended another acoustic show at the Iron Horse…And the best night for musical surprises is… say it with me… Song Swap Night.
I can’t help but say it every time. It costs nothing to attend, and those in the audience get to experience new and unexpected delights, from artists we’re just discovering, and artists discovering themselves.
Local legend Sean Snyder, solo artist and frontman for It Hurts to Be Dead, hosted this Song Swap night and performed a number of his best known songs. Although Sean is one of my favorite and most promising local artists, one of the most admirable things about Sean is the responsibility he takes for making sure young artists get their due in our town. In a DM exchange before the show, Sean readily admitted to me that he hasn’t always been the most “give back” kind of artist in the decades he’s been a fixture in the falls, but he’s self-aware and turning that around right now… he wanted me to know about Charlie Roberts a.k.a. Harmsayer.
Sean asked me if I had seen Charlie perform previously and I told him I hadn’t. He said “She is amazing. Charlie’s voice seems like something from a Victrola, from a forgotten and better time.”
I’m here to tell you, he’s not wrong.
Charlie Roberts voice is silky smooth and subdued, with the soothing tone of a woodwind instrument. Charlie covered songs by Lana Del Rey and Bright Eyes, among others, and she showed us she has real talent. I discovered a new local artist to love in Charlie Roberts a.k.a. Harmsayer.
Good friends performed at this particular Song Swap Night, too, with the namesake performers from HermAnthony in attendance, Anthony Taylor and Herman Hardin.
I always hear something interesting and entertaining in Anthony Taylor’s performances — lately it’s been his original song “Holy Town,” about religious hypocrisy in a town we all know well.
The real discovery to me on this particular night, however, was Anthony’s musical partner, Herman Hardin. This young performer is stepping into the spotlight as we speak with original songs and a confidence I have not seen from him before.
Herman’s singer/songwriter skill is undeniable, and he performed one original number, Stop Hitting Yourself, that wowed me with a memorable melody and profound lyrics. We will all be paying attention to the music and songs of Herman Hardin in the future.
Have you seen and heard these artists? Tell us about it in the comments.
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I absolutely love Charlie. She is way overdue for some recognition.
Need to hear more from Herman and Charlie for sure! Been digging some Hermanthony too