Hemline Theory

Kent Patch was recently contacted by Adam Renchen, drummer for the Toledo-based band Hemline Theory, to see if we were interested in covering their upcoming Kent show. I figured I might as well check them out.

When I clicked the song samples on their Facebook profile, I was quite surprised. The music was good, which was a nice start, but it was also a completely unexpected sound.

Now I’m not sure what I was expecting – but it certainly wasn’t this. Sultry female cabaret-style vocals, with touches of Cowboy Junkies, Portishead and Garbage, and even a hint of Nina Simone. It’s an eclectic blend the group refers to as “cabarock.”

Hemline Theory plays the Stone Tavern tonight at 10 p.m.

Renchen first heard lead singer Sarah Tebbe sing about 10 years ago on her porch in Cincinnati. She was singing some of her very first compositions, but Renchen was taken with the imagery and poetry of her lyrics. And of course, her captivating voice.

That was the start of a long-term songwriting partnership. After moving to Toledo in 2008, the pair formed Hemline Theory. They quickly became a local favorite by playing bars, clubs and area colleges.

The group began work on their first CD, For the Stranger, in 2009, and it was released late last year. The album’s 10 cuts showcase Tebbe's evocative lyrics and an intriguing sonic blend, with elements of rock, jazz, blues and folk. A wide variety of instruments are utilized to service the sound, including piano, banjo, guitar and vibes, along with sandpaper and front-porch stomping.

“The thread in all of our music is Sarah's lyrics and melodies,” Renchen said. “Most songs center on that or start with that. We provide musical bits for Sarah to build on, and then a lot of times I do a lot of the arranging.”

While the band is already in the process of recording their next effort, they continue to showcase songs from For the Stranger in their live shows, along with new material co-written by bassist Jefferson Camacho and pianist/guitarist Eric Pilcher.

Through a friend at Kent State, Renchen hooked up with Louis DelBene of the Stone Tavern. Hemline Theory also plays Saturday night at Annabell's in Akron.

“This is only our second trip out of the Toledo area after a successful night in Saginaw, MI, a few months ago,” Renchen said. “We hope for a lot more to come though.”

In keeping with the Stone Tavern’s policy of almost never charging a cover, the show is free. The Sexy Pig Divas, a group that describes themselves as an experimental indie folk rock duo, will open.

It has all the makings of a fun and interesting night of music. And did I mention free?

About this column: Local radio personality Bob Burford will be reviewing live music acts in the Kent area for your reading pleasure here on Kent Patch.
- Kent Patch

6.Hemline Theory, For The Stranger—More proof that the music industry is utterly superfluous when it comes to good music. Bowling Green's own Hemline Theory describes themselves as “Cabaret inspired rock with sultry female vocals and evocative lyrics.” I just think they're utterly smooth and cool, awesome musicians and cool people to boot. Go to cdbaby or iTunes and give them a shot. We got a chance to play with them in December and they were great...and I'm not just saying that because they gave the audience cupcakes.

- TheMikeDuBose

WHAT MATT LIASSE THINKS: The first noticeable quality of Hemline Theory is the smooth sound of Sarah Tebbe’s vocals.

Her cool voice, comparable to that of Zooey Deschanel and Janis Joplin, goes quite nicely when sounded over a fun banjo, piano or a 12-string acoustic guitar.

The band, consisting of Tebbe, bass player Jefferson Camancho, guitarist Eric Pilcher and University professor Adam Renchen on drums, list their biggest influences being Tom Waits and the Dresden Dolls. Such musicians are evident in Hemline Theory’s sound on their 10-song debut album, “For The Stranger,” whose release will be celebrated tonight at Grumpy Dave’s Pub for those age 18 and over.

Tebbe’s bluesy voice cruises through the album with ease, with a little twang mixed in the album’s strongest tracks “Highway Robber,” “Thumbelina” and “Curtain.” The band’s southern rock flair shines through right from the start with the minute-and-a half steady beat opener “Me and Holden.”

The lyrics, also done by Tebbe, are almost as strong as the vocals. The song “Might Be Nothing” features a lyric about a “melancholy lullaby,” which could also be used to describe the feel for the entire disc. “Might Be Nothing” shows some of the album’s best lyrics with “a girl could get lost in a town like this/the streets play an endless game of hide-and-go-seek.” The rest of the song innocently plays with religion with lyrics like “It may not be Sunday but I think I’m born again,” “I may not be holy but I think I could fly” and “I may not pray often but I’ll give it a try tonight.”

Other songs feature catchy pop hooks like “The Nervous Habits of Charlie” and cover topics like a meeting with a stripper like on the song “Peep Show.”
The songs’ arrangements progress throughout the album with a strong southern rock feel with clear, raw emotion in Tebbe’s voice. The album’s underlying theme is majestic and calm, with characters found throughout, like Charlie, who apparently is on the mend, or Madam, who the listener visits on the fourth track, “Madam’s Lair.”

“For The Stranger” is a solid debut and will be sure to shine strongly when performed on any stage in the downtown bars of Bowling Green.
- BG News: The Pulse

Sandpaper, porch stomps, banjo, and tuba. Toledo band Hemline Theory defines its own genre with a mix of sounds and bluesy vocals that evoke burlesque imagery.

Drummer Adam Renchen describes the group’s style: “We’ve kind of coined our own term: Cabarock, a combination of cabaret and rock. We’ve got a showy kind of cabaret feel to it sometimes. A lot of piano, a lot of groove. A lot of sexy, kind of dark overtones.”

Hemline Theory will release its first album, “For the Stranger,” at its two upcoming live performances: 10 p.m. Oct. 22 at Grumpy Dave’s Pub in Bowling Green and 4 p.m. Oct. 23 at Culture Clash Records in Toledo.

The band began 10 years ago in Cincinnati when Renchen found singer-songwriter Sarah Tebbe playing acoustic guitar on her porch. A fan of Tebbe’s poetry, Renchen was captivated by her voice and proposed recording songs together. After the pair moved to Toledo, Hemline Theory was formed in 2008 with Casey Malone, Michael Kubel, Brandon Boltz and Liz Owens Boltz. They toured locally and began recording album tracks in 2009. According to Renchen, their influences include The Dresden Dolls, PJ Harvey, Tom Waits, Devotchka, Portishead, Leonard Cohen and Garbage.

Hemline Theory has since reformed, exchanging four members for bassist Jefferson Camacho and pianist and guitarist Eric Pilcher. Constant between the two bands are Renchen and Tebbe.

Renchen is excited to finally have all of the band’s hard work recorded and released in “For the Stranger.”

“It feels awesome, especially since Sarah and I recorded so many things in the past. For whatever reason, it never got finished,” Renchen said.

Cover for Hemline Theory’s show at Grumpy Dave’s Pub is $3. The Culture Clash Records show is free. CDs will be sold for $5 Oct. 22 and 23.
--Amy Biolchini
- Toledo Free Press Star

Local folk band Hemline Theory just released their new EP, Lessons In Hunger Part 1, and the opening track, “Stuck,” is a jaunty gospel vamp that features a gang of locals such as Archpalatine and Steven Singer on harmony vocal and piano, respectively. –Tyler - The Philadelphia Globe