Becca Mancari at The Blue Room, 10/6/2023
Nashville-based singer and songwriter Becca Mancari released their third album Left Hand in August, and they finally came home from tour to celebrate with a sold-out show at The Blue Room Friday night. Mancari’s hometown release shows have always been grand occasions. The party for 2020’s The Greatest Part — delayed more than a year thanks to the pandemic — featured cameos from several of the artist’s musical pals including Julien Baker and Paramore’s Hayley Williams. Left Hand’s Nashville debut followed in step, with Mancari promising a unique show and plenty of surprise guests throughout the night.
Girlpuppy at The Blue Room, 10/6/2023
Atlanta indie rocker Girlpuppy opened the show with dreamy songs like “As Much as I Can” and the retro-slow-dance-inspired “Surprise Me,” which serve as the closing one-two punch of her 2021 debut EP Swan. Girlpuppy is the alias of Becca Harvey, who introduced the double-Becca show by saying, “It’s kind of the Becca-palooza.” If only they’d thought of it earlier, that would have made a great show-exclusive T-shirt. Girlpuppy’s music is often compared to Phoebe Bridgers, but an artist like Clairo would be a more apt comparison. With lo-fi bedroom-pop vibes and catchy melodies, Harvey’s work is more moody than melancholy. She and her band rounded out the set with an unreleased song, with the singer asking the audience to let her know if they liked it at the merch table after the set.
By the time Mancari took the stage, The Blue Room was full to the brim. If you looked carefully, you could pick out some of the folks who would later end up onstage as special guests mingling with the crowd, eagerly anticipating the performance just as much as those who bought a ticket. Mancari kicked off the celebration with their recent single “Homesick Honeybee,” a tenderhearted reflection on loneliness and heartbreak with a cathartic chorus.
Annie DiRusso with Becca Mancari at The Blue Room, 10/6/2023
For this occasion, Mancari was joined by their touring band plus a string section who punctuated the set’s most emotional moments, including Left Hand’s “Mexican Queen” and “I Needed You.” Rocker par excellence Annie DiRusso, who opened Mancari’s The Greatest Part release show in 2021, was revealed as the first guest. DiRusso sang the aforementioned Baker’s harmonies on “Over and Over,” a queer pop anthem showcasing some of Mancari’s best writing to date. To no one’s surprise, Mancari’s close friend, Left Hand collaborator and onetime Bermuda Triangle bandmate Brittany Howard was the night’s other special guest. Together, they bopped through the ultimate friendship song, Left Hand opener “Don’t Even Worry,” while sharing the occasional massive bear hug throughout.
Becca Mancari at The Blue Room, 10/6/2023
Mancari’s vocals are stronger than they’ve ever been, switching from ballsy rock melodies to gentle ballads with ease. The backing band was also at the top of their game — especially bandleader April Lee, a multi-instrumentalist who learned bass to play with Mancari on the road.
All night, Mancari’s joy was infectious. There is a lightness that comes with true love and acceptance — the feeling of home. Through hard work and earnest expression, they’ve cultivated a family to lean on in times of struggle and to celebrate with in times of triumph. That led to a room full of strangers ready to feel every feeling and hold each other through every high and low. Nashville needs more Becca Mancaris; is there a city that doesn’t? Now is a great time to appreciate the one we’ve got.
