Uh Huh Her present a radio-ready set in NYC

October 29, 2008, at the Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza

By Eleanor Whitney
Published: November 1st, 2008 | 9:15am

When Camila Grey and Leisha Hailey, Uh Huh Her’s core members and creative force, sauntered on stage looking stylized and fashionable in very high heels, the audience burst into rapturous applause and whistles and calls of “Leisha! Camila! We love you!” It had been a long wait after Danish openers the Fashion’s energetic emo-pop set that was complete with onstage somersaults by lead singer Jakob Printzlau.

Uh Huh Her’s music was as stylish and as well put together as Grey and Hailey’s outfits. Their songs mined the territory of shimmering, synth-driven pop filled with plenty of angsty and reverb-heavy vocals. Throughout the set, Grey and Hailey, whose glittery eye makeup was reminiscent of A Clockwork Orange, seemed very aware of the squadron of photographers and audience members capturing their every move on film. While they were focused on playing, they also were aware they were posing.

For many audience members, bassist-vocalist–synth player Hailey’s presence was a big draw, as she also is known for acting on The L Word. However, music is not a side gig for Hailey, as many have followed her career since she was in the alterna-punk band the Murmurs. “That was Leisha’s dream, to be a rock star,” sighed one adoring fan.

Uh Huh Her’s heavy reliance on synthesizers, effects, and programmed drums sounded very close to the band’s recordings and did not add a new dimension to their songs. At times, the sound was so heavily produced it was nearly impossible to distinguish Grey and Hailey’s vocals from each other. Each song follows a similar structure that begins as a down-tempo electro ballad and gradually builds in intensity to a resonating, drenched climax. Even when the set began to drag, weighed heavily with slower songs like “Say So,” the audience was wholly absorbed in the act of taking in and enjoying the performance.

While the audience reaction to Uh Huh Her in New York was enthusiastic, if nothing out of the ordinary, Grey and Hailey bantered about their concert in Virginia being picketed by “people who hate people.” When Hailey described the picketers as “Jesus freaks,” Grey quipped back, “Jesus was amazing. He would have been at our concert.” “In vinyl pants,” Hailey added.

Musically, highlights of the set included the heavy, floor-shaking synthesized bass line in “Explode”; dark, smoky vocals in “Common Reaction”; and New Wave and disco influences in the angst-ridden “Wait Another Day.” These songs fully showed the women’s capabilities as songwriters and performers. Overall, the set begged for more up-tempo tracks that were less radio-ready and more rocknroll.