Last Saturday, Oct. 13, marked the first WEB coffeehouse concert of the semester, headlined by Chanti Darling with Lisa Prank opening. Though the audience was small, the venue held an aura of attentive enthusiasm to hear the two PNW-based artists.

Based out of Seattle, Lisa Prank is a one-woman band consisting of Robin Edwards, who plays the electric guitar and a drum machine. A self-described Taurus with a Scorpio rising, Edwards brings a quirky, creative voice to traditional punk music.

Of her music, Edwards says “I would describe it as babysitter punk sometimes, sometimes I say TMI punk, but it’s mostly three or four chords and my feelings.”

Edwards’ performance remained true to her own description. Through the format of concise songs with repetitive chord progressions, she touches upon topics including heartbreak, birth control, dancing and looking up symptoms on WebMD.

First-year Clara Epelman agreed: “I thought it was an interesting take on more relatable/feminist pop punk.”  

The crowds dispersed briefly after Lisa Prank played her last song, anxiously awaiting the headliner of the show, the Portland-based futurist R&B duo Chanti Darling. Though the overarching genre of the group’s music aligns most closely with R&B, frontman Chanticleer Trü explained the different elements constitute the whole:

“I call it retrofuturist. There’s a lot of influence, it’s all kind of across the R&B spectrum, so subgenres like disco and boogie and house and funk and 90s’ freestyle.”

To attend a Chanti Darling show is not only a musical experience but a visceral and cultural one as well. Of the group’s performative intrigue, WEB musical events co-director Cara Casper said:

“They just want to throw it back to old school soul and make that prominent again, including the whole show, not just the vocals or the music.”

One particular aspect of Chanti Darling’s beautiful ambience is the wardrobe. That night, it consisted of a variety of textures and colors, including a fur hat, a checkerboard crop top, a leopard print shirt, metallic maroon boots and a green, lustrous jacket and pants combination. The basement of Reid was illuminated with creative energy, confining musical aspects reminiscent of both the past and the future, and the alluring tones of Trü’s voice.

Junior audience member Quentin Birdwell said, “I love his voice. The music was very smooth and well-produced.”

In contrast to Lisa Prank, Chanti Darling’s lyrics are more conceptual and thematic rather than narrative. Subjects among their work include sex, dancing, love and existence. Their music and stage presence shapes a newfound genre of music that is innovative, courageous and refreshing.

Despite the intriguing acts that performed on Saturday, the performance occurred with the air of under-attendance. It is no easy task for WEB to bring these acts to campus. Despite the fact, Casper affirmed:

“You don’t need a big name to have a good show.”

These coffeehouse concerts provide an ideal space to dance, meet new people and discover fantastic music all in Walla Walla.