Displaying items by tag: Hey Nonny

Rachel Silvert plumbs the lyrics of a dozen of Broadway’s classic romantic songs, in “Love Songs Are Weird—and other reasons I’m single,” a one-woman cabaret show at Davenport’s Piano Bar on Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago.

Silvert often begins the numbers by singing pieces straight up, then breaks between stanzas or lines to dissect the works for the more questionable parts.
In her opening number, Silvert jumps right into it with “On the Street Where You Live,” the richly melodic expression of a man’s romantic infatuation from Lerner & Lowe’s 1956 “My Fair Lady.”

I have often walked
Down the street before,
But the pavement always stayed
Beneath my feet before
All at once am I
Several stories high,
Knowing I'm on the street where you live

Singing it straightforwardly (accompanied by pianist Nathan Urdangen), the phrasing becomes more uncertain as she progresses through the stanzas, and it begins to cross my mind, is this guy a stalker? Especially, given Silvert’s patter, informing us the young woman has just told this amorous man she never wants to see him again in her life:

And oh, the towering feeling
Just to know somehow you are near
The overpowering feeling
That any second you may suddenly appear
People stop and stare
They don't bother me…

Some songs, especially by contemporary standards, have lyrics Silvert finds suspect. Take Rogders & Hart’s 1937 “My Funny Valentine:”

My funny valentine
Sweet comic valentine
You make me smile with my heart
Your looks are laughable
Unphotographable
Yet, you're my favorite work of art
Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?

Silvert sees red flags all over that one: Laughable looks, a figure less than Greek, and not so smart, for starters. Likewise with other songs, with Silvert suggesting context is also important, including for shows like “Cinderella,” ("Do I love you because you are beautiful, or are you beautiful because I love you?") and from Pippen, “With You,” a sweetly benign meditation on love and fulfillment - but sung by a circus performer before a street full of prostitutes.

But Silvert never gets too heavy; this delightful confection of a show is pure entertainment. Another high point is a rendition of an eight-year-old grammar school girl passionately singing “My Heart Will Go On,” from the movie Titanic.” Drawn from Silvert’s personal experience - was that her on the lawn in 1997 with her classmates, singing with such conviction, as the meaning of the lyrics flew over her head? It’s a funny bit.

The closing number did evoke sentimental tears from this reviewer: “Some Enchanted Evening,” from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “South Pacific.” Silvert finds nothing to question in this perfectly wonderful expression of the genesis of love. But it does serve as a perfectly touching accompaniment for the “reveal” of the evening. No spoilers here; you’ll have to catch Silvert next time she is at Davenport’s Piano Bar, which also has daily performances and open mics in its front bar. Or catch her at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights September 21, 2024.

Arlington Heights has a new music venue, Hey Nonny, and it is located at 10 S. Vail right in the heart of a hopping downtown area that has been bustling with excitement over the past few years. Unlike difficult parking scenarios that you might find at Chicago venues, a parking garage is conveniently located about a half block down from the front door. Last week the new music club held their grand opening with only club members and press attending. An impressive venue with all the bells and whistles would be an understatement.

Club owner, Chip Brooks, was making the rounds introducing himself to everyone. The entire staff was helpful and friendly, and the place had a good vibe to it. A nice buffet was offered to the guests, which I believe were all essentially samples of what will appear on the menu. And having said that, the food was delicious, the chef also making his way out to make sure everything was going well and that his culinary creations were being enjoyed.

The night’s entertainment was Eric Lindell and his band, which proved to be the perfect choice for the club’s opening night. Sitting in on guitar was Anson Funderburgh who is currently in town playing shows at Fitzgerald’s and SPACE. Lindell and friends put forth a solid straight-ahead blend of roots influences. They took a little blues, some rock and country and rolled it into one fun-filled performance. At times they reminded me of the early 70’s version of the Grateful Dead. Fender guitars sautéed in reverb was the flavor of the night.

All in all, it was a great introduction to a new venue. I looked at the upcoming line up and it sure looked good. You can check out the upcoming performers by clicking here. The ambiance, stage, sound and kitchen all receive high praise. No doubt about it - Hey Nonny is going to be a fantastic place to see some great music. If I had to nitpick about anything at all I would request that they consider easier return access from the restrooms. To use the washroom, one leaves the suite that the club is in and returns to a locked door. Meaning, I had to go back outside and re-enter through the front door. There might need to be a better system involved at some point. A bit inconvenient, but not at all a deal breaker. The venue is top-notch and the owner really put a lot of thought into the place to provide a unique concert and dining experience.

Hey Nonny is in a great location, the food is excellent, and the music line up looks promising. I thought the acoustics in the room was very good, which is a must for any venue that offers live music. And the sound wasn’t overpowering, so friends could talk to each other while the music was playing without shouting back and forth, which is nice. Live club sound engineers have a tendency to peel the paint off the walls, which is unpleasant at times. Not the case here.

If you are in the area and looking for a night out with some good music and yummy food, keep an eye on the music schedule at Hey Nonny.