By Jane McDonald
As our first in-person event since the before times, Head Room Session #51 is a significant one. Many greetings are 2 years in the making and the enthusiasm is palpable within the walls of the Redline’s Reach Studio, which during the day acts as a space for individuals who are homeless or in transition to safely create art. Opening act Cassidy Bacon, backed by upright bassist Emma Rose, is up to the task of satisfying our collective need for a live recording session.
She kicks off her set with “Try So Hard”, a lovely and minimalistic song that speaks to one’s personal power. Cassidy and Emma effortlessly harmonize, allowing the refrain of “you don’t have to try so hard” to become a mantra (and mental salve) for the audience to contemplate. The next track, entitled “Broken Ones”, has a clear theme of self-destruction, both personal and observed. An emotional and melancholy song Cassidy proclaims that she “likes the broken ones best,” engaging the listener to consider what exactly it means to be broken. Although arguably a term that only applies to some, I tend to think that we are all Broken Ones, just in varying states of repair. Perhaps by loving the broken ones, we learn to cherish the imperfect parts of ourselves more fully.
Cassidy Bacon’s final song (and my personal favorite) is called “Hold Too Tight”, featuring stripped down instrumentals and more gorgeous harmonies with Emma Rose. The songwriter laments the familiar phenomena of losing that which she clings to hardest. Building upon themes in her first track (Try So Hard) Cassidy examines the ideas of control and release, holding the tension between seeming opposing forces in a way that is neither too tight or so hard, but beautifully balanced.
Leader of Denver band The Whimsy of Things, Cassidy Bacon has a sound that reminds me of the downtempo moments in Ani DiFranco’s self-titled debut — sparse and ethereal, with nakedly honest lyrics. With an established band and solo performances at The O and Lost City in 2021 under her belt, there is bound to be a chance to see this introspective and vulnerable musician perform in the near future.