Susanna Hoff’s new solo album, Someday, is an intensely personal song cycle that doubles as a musical love letter to the music of the 1960s, which, she says, “has always been my reference point for everything.” Produced and orchestrated by Mitchell Froom, the LP is heartfelt and immediate, oozing refinement but without a trace of pretense. On an album full of stylistic surprises, including the summery groove of “This Is the Place,” the evocative “November Sun” and the lilting “Picture Me”, with its Bacharach-style sophistication, lush retro arrangements and modern state-of-the-art production enclose Hoffs’ one-of-a-kind voice in an aural tapestry of velvet and lace.
What’s the first gig you ever attended?
Judy Collins at the Troubadour in 1968 and Donovan at the Hollywood Bowl in 1969.
What is the best gig that you ever played/performed?
On July 5, 1986, the Bangles opened for Queen at Slane Castle, outside of Dublin. It was like Woodstock in Ireland. There were close to 100,000 people there – all of them wet and muddy from the rain. And lots of Guinness was being consumed. The highlight was watching Queen from the side of the stage.
What is the best gig you have ever seen?
It’s a toss up between two shows at Winterland in San Francisco – the Sex Pistols’ last show in January of ’78 and Patti Smith in May of that year – and an early Talking Heads’ show at the Whisky-a-Go-Go, circa 1977.
What is the gig you would most like to play?
I’d like to sing with Robert Plant…we could sing a bunch of Love (Arthur Lee) covers since we both love those songs.
What would be the lineup for your dream gig?
It would have to include Greg Leisz, but I trust Robert to pick the rest of the players.
Susanna Hoffs plays Eddie’s Attic Monday, Oct. 29th
