Storm Large, photo by Laura Domela
by Mark G. Auerbach
I had never heard about Pink Martini until a couple of years ago, when a friend shared a video of NPR reporter and All Things Considered host Ari Shapiro performing with this one-of-a-kind lounge band. Shapiro was mesmerizing as a singer, and the band’s repertoire was amazing, but the piece-de-resistance was their vocalist Storm Large.
Storm Large still performs with Pink Martini. But, the Massachusetts native is back in the Bay State with her band Le Bonheur, and they stopped at Springfield’s City Stage for a show.
An accomplished musician, actor, playwright, and author, Storm Large got the public’s attention as a finalist on CBS’ Rock Star Supernova, before joining Pink Martini in 2011. She tours with Le Bonheur, performs with folks like k.d lang, Rufus Wainwright, and major orchestras. Her memoir, Crazy Enough was named Oprah’s Book of The Week. She performed in the musical Cabaret, and she’s developing a musical for The Public Theatre.
Her 90-minute set ran the gamut from some original works to some remixed Cole Porter, a beautifully rendered version of Kander and Ebb’s “Maybe This Time”, and an equally-fine take on Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”. An original song about love, inspired by marriage equality, was stunning. Her vocal technique is solid, whether she’s in rock mode or more introspective musical theatre style. Le Bonheur, her band, with James David Beaton on piano, Matthew Brown on electric bass, Gregory Eklund on drums, and Scott Weddle on guitar, is terrific.
Large has style, stage presence, and a great instrument.
Storm Large and Le Bonheur head to Pittsfield’s Colonial Theatre on May 13, under the auspices of the Berkshire Theatre Group. For details: 413-997-4444 or www.berkshiretheatregroup.org.
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Mark G. Auerbach studied theatre at American University and the Yale School of Drama. He’s worked for arts organizations and reported on theatre for newspapers and radio.
