“The Space,” in Hamden, Conn., is one of my favorite venues to see shows here in Connecticut. It is such an intimate space with eclectic decorations, and great food options for vegetarians and vegans (which is a major plus for me!).
Needless to say, whenever I get the chance to review a show at this venue, I jump at the opportunity, especially when it is to see one of my peers perform. Catalina Gonzalez is a female singer/songwriter from Chile, who is currently a student here at UNH. I have written previous articles on reviewing her newest EP (which is a must listen).
The show was definitely a great experience, and showcased a lot of Gonzalez’s newer music that has yet to be released.
“I wanted to play songs that I have not really put out there yet,” said Gonzalez. “I knew a lot of the people coming to this show would be my friends, and they know all of my older stuff. I wanted to play things that were new for them, so that they could really enjoy the show.”
Evan Pitonzo accompanied Gonzalez for a few of the songs on bass, and the two performed very well together. It was clear to see that they are very good friends, and were very well-rehearsed when it came to playing in tandem with one another.
After the show, I asked Gonzalez how she liked playing at “The Space” and to describe the experience.
“I love the sound,” she said. “It feels awesome even though it is such a small space. Sometimes I feel awkward blabbing on about random s***, but it’s so easy to do when you feel like you’re in a room with all of your close friends. It’s a great space to perform in.”
The first two songs she performed were off of her EP, and talked about hardships in life. These songs range from divorce, to boys and everything in between. It is very easy to relate to Gonzalez’s music, as she uses strong melodic structures backed by emotional, and witty lyrics.
This was definitely a great performance to attend. It is always nice to watch someone on stage who you can tell genuinely loves what he or she is doing. Gonzalez was smiling ear to ear the entire performance, and you can tell it’s because she loves music and performing. It is hard to find that passion nowadays, so it is refreshing when someone brings that element back into focus.
