By Brett Shaw
Opening for Andrew Bird on Tuesday evening, My Brightest Diamond was unfamiliar to many concert goers. But these attendees absolutely left the show as fans, springing to their feet in a standing ovation.
The new Hancher stage premiered its first ever Mission Creek Festival performance with My Brightest Diamond, fronted by alternative singer-songwriter and multi-talented musician Shara Nova.
Playing the keyboard, guitar, and more while mixing her track live on stage, the My Brightest Diamond frontwoman has a musical versatility that accompanies the gritty power of her vocals.
My Brightest Diamond supplied high spirits throughout the evening with humorous crowd interaction, lively dancing, and impassioned lyrics. She became enveloped in the music as it took her over emotionally and physically. Even the down tempo songs about her son or seeking love brought an uplifting message once you got past the tears in my eyes.
My Brightest Diamond often considers world events as she seek out inspiration for writing and performing her music. In reference to police brutality, Nova put her hands up in the air and repeated the lyrics, “no man can bind me.” She then dedicated the song to Trayvon Martin, which was followed by cheers of support from the audience.
Another song on her setlist, titled “Turn This Mess Around,” called out the government’s inaptitude to effectively handle the Flint water crisis. More generally, the song calls out for strong women to take a stand against any injustice and to reshape the world.
It was a shame that the luxurious Hancher seating subconsciously discouraged standing during the performance, or else I and many others in the crowd would certainly have been dancing in the aisles. One courageous man in the front row even addressed the entire auditorium during the show, telling them to not be afraid to stand — a message that strangely resonated with the empowering themes of “Turn This Mess Around.”