Concert Review: Stephanie Lambring (Cat's Cradle)

BY MARK DOLEJS

Singer-songwriter Stephanie Lambring played the opening set at the Cat’s Cradle on Tuesday night, warming up the crowd for headliner Sierra Hull. Both Hull and Lambring are fantastic, but quite different in music and style. This lineup proved to be quite the compliment to each other.

Lambring is a phenomenal songwriter with matching vocals. She is a musician and poet, and at times her humor made me smile.

The night started with “Little White Lie” and "Daddy’s Disappointment,” the latter being about a young girl's efforts trying to live up to her daddy’s dreams and expectations.

Her 30-minute set also included “Fine,” “Two-Faced,” and “Good Mother.” The songs she shared were from her debut album Autonomy and her 2024 release called Hypocrite.

Before Lambring performed each song, she usually introduced or described the song in a humorous way, which kind of took the edge off of the poignant subject matter. She brings subjects to light that maybe we don’t want to hear, but at the same time, need to hear.

“Jasper” is a song about that guy up the street in a small town that no one really knows. But yet, everyone has something to say about him. He dies a lonely death as does his dog.

“Your dog rode shotgun
To the Jackson County pound
To sit and wait for the same old fate
You already found”

I unwittingly found myself getting emotional during most of Lambring’s songs. While I did not necessarily identify with everything, I found myself feeling each song as she shared. I’m not a mother, but I could feel the words and emotions described in “Good Mother.”

I think the best song of her set was “Hospital Parking.” This is a song she wrote after getting a phone call to come to the hospital after her mother had fallen and hit her head. There are so many truths that this song spoke to me, it’s hard to describe. But, this one was personal for me. My dad fell and hit his head less than two years ago. Mine was a different outcome from Lambring’s.

“Glad you went home for Mother’s Day
Thinking maybe you should pack a black dress
But you’re too afraid”

“Someone’s holding rainbow balloons
Hoping to hold off the truth
Someone’s getting good news
Someone’s never going home”

I really, really enjoyed this evening and Stephanie Lambring was a very pleasant surprise. Her talents both vocally and lyrically are top notch and blew me away. I can’t wait for our paths to cross again!

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MARK DOLEJS

Photography is an avenue that Mark Dolejs uses to learn about the people and places that cross his path. After more than 30 years as a photojournalist, Mark enjoys concert, macro, and roadside photography. Follow Mark on Instagram at @solidrockpix.

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