PICTURE THIS: Hindi Zahra @ Bottom of the Hill, SF 10/1/11

October 03. 2011 | By Don Albonico

Hindi Zahra stopped into the Bottom of the Hill Saturday night on her latest tour. Two great local bands, Karina Denike and Valerie Orth filled out the night of great female-led bands.


Valerie Orth


Valerie Orth

First up was Valerie Orth with Veronika Safarova on bass and Jeff Marrs on drums. This three-piece band was more rooted in pop than jazz with songs like “Keeps Coming Back” and “Better Then Reality.” Great songwriting and backing vocals kept this band from sounding anything but typical.


Karina Denike


Karina Denike

Filling in the support slot was the mellow Karina Denike. Joining Denike, who sang lead vocals and played chord organ was Melody Ferris singing harmony, James Frazier on guitar, Eric Garland on drums, Michael McIntosh on keyboard and Aaron Novik on bass clarinet, rounding out her vocals with jazz lounge style. Hearing Denike harmonize with the bass clarinet was a real treat.


Hindi Zahra


Hindi Zahra

Soon Hindi Zahra and her five-piece band took the stage. Composed of Thibault Frisoni on guitar, Lucille Loison on percussion and vocals, Didier Guazzo on drums, Silvano Christian on bass, and Hakim Hamadoncre on guitar and mandola, the band was a little cramped on the Bottom of the Hill‘s smaller stage but more than made up for it with an excellent set. Hakim Hamadoncre brought the house down with some unbelievable mandola playing.


Hindi Zahra

Check out even more badass photos HERE.

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