By Jane McDonald
Bluebook - Photo By Bre Blake Photography
Bluebook Hypnotizes Leon Gallery Audience with Haunting Melodies
It is a full house at Leon Gallery where the stage is set for Headroom Session #52. Dreamy Denver band Bluebook has attracted a substantial crowd and came dressed for the occasion, sporting delicate matching white blouses that evoke an air of romanticism, and in retrospect - a hint at what’s to come.
A Denver Supergroup Gives Us Goosebumps
Started by front woman and bassist Julie Davis, the all-female quartet includes Anna Morrsett (guitar) of Still Tide, Jess Parsons (keyboard) of Glowing House, and previous front woman of Snake Rattle Rattle Snake, Haley Helmericks. Needless to say, this band is a powerhouse of badass female musicians, a fact Bluebook exhibits in their session opener, “I Am The Underneath”. It begins softly, folding in layers of instrumentals and vocals, then culminates in an all-band harmony that proves to be their trademark.
Before their second song Julie announces “this is a song about an ear infection,” triggering painful flashbacks for those of us who spent too much time at the community pool as a kid. Entitled “My Good Ear” the final lyrics become an incantation, “in the sound, I am found, I am found,” a phrase any music junkie can relate to. Music gives permission to simply be in a world driven by do, providing a space for reflection in a way little else does. They follow up with “Paperwhite”, a lovely track with more signature harmonizations that fill the space (and my soul) in a satisfying way. Gentle slide guitar juxtaposes the rich vocals, bringing a nocturnal quality to the song.
Julie once again pulls the veil of context for their final song,”Shake, Shake”, telling us, “this is a song about ketamine therapy,” soliciting a knowing chuckle from select audience members. Full of restrictive imagery and references to physicality, the song reflects the heaviness of the writer’s experience. Punctuating a stunning set, the audience is left with the reverberations created by Bluebooks’s unified voices.
Check Out More of Bluebook’s Music!
Bluebook’s sound has an otherworldly quality to it with their hypnotic harmonizations expertly balanced with instrumentals varying from sparse to rocking. Their 2018 album The Astronaut’s Wife was named one of the year’s “Ten Best Colorado Albums” by Westword and received acclaim throughout the community. Now releasing songs off their 2022 project entitled Optimistic Voices, this band continues to gain momentum and loyal fans, myself included.