8mm / Venue: The Viper Room / Los Angeles / December 17th, 2009
Reviewed by Erin Michelle Brown
I
shower every morning at 5:30 am and the best part is that I can see the
marquee for the Viper Room from the shower window. I like looking at the
lineup each day and it is always a little more exciting to see the show that
you are attending! Couple that with an 8mm Christmas gig and you have one
happy camper! 8mm consists of producer / guitarist Sean Beavan, his wife and
vocalist Juliette Beavan and drummer Jon Nicholson. Trios can be hit or
miss, but 8mm is solid and Juliette Beavan is absolutely entrancing, as she
performs with a seductiveness that is only topped by the chemistry that
exists during the duos with her husband Sean.
The vibe in the Viper Room was old school; almost like a speakeasy, with low lights and loud chatter, and as the curtain lifted on 8mm, even my jaw dropped at how stunning platinum blonde Juliette looked, dressed in a slinky, yet festive red dress . If you were sitting in the audience, you were probably thinking, ‘I hope that her voice does her justice,’ and you would not have been disappointed.
The trio began with Christmas classics such as “Christmas Time Is Here,” and renditions of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” and an amazing cover of the holiday favorite “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” Although these songs have been recorded and performed by numerous artists over the years, Sean and Juliette Beavan’s vocals further enhanced them, as they melted together, forming impeccable harmonies.
Throughout 8mm’s performance Juliette offered the audience free copies of their CD as a Christmas present in addition to throwing candy canes their way. Although, to some the gestures might appear to be small, demonstrating their appreciation for their fans, was not lost on the audience, and helps to set them apart from so many bands that bring to the stage a sense of entitlement.
As the set progressed Juliette and Sean performed “On A Silent Night,” “Satellite of Love,” and “Oh! Darling,” before a now packed club and one in which everyone was having a blast.
Although there were some minor technical difficulties and the Viper Room’s acoustics are not the best, Juliette turned in an extremely sexy and entrancing performance that kept even this “straight” woman’s eyes intensely focused on her. When you couple Juliette Beavan’s demeanor with her soft, yet powerful vocals, you are hooked for life.
To listen to the music of 8mm please visit the band's website or their myspace site
December 17th, 2009
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Erin Michelle Brown is a social media consultant, she has worked for San Diego's Rock 105.3 101 KGB, Warner Brothers Records and has been extensively involved with marketing and promoting for a number of major artists and tours. Erin lives in Los Angeles. Please visit Erin's website
