Hello - Sam here from the band. 

2020 has been difficult. It will continue to be difficult, but I’d like to share this video in case a hopeful song from a pre-pandemic release show makes your day a bit more bearable.

For all of my adult life, my love for songs has led me to people I love. Songs have driven me to shows where I met lifelong friends. Those friends have challenged and fostered me to become a fuller person. And it’s all given me a reverence for the invisible things that make us feel a little less alone.

About half a year ago, a bunch of our songs made their way into the world. I gathered with a bunch of onstage friends to play them to a bunch of offstage friends. We gave those songs a chance to love and be loved. It was Friday, February 21st, 2020 at Ace of Cups - a month before this became unimaginable.

I haven’t fully grieved the loss of shows like this. I don’t know when they’ll return. But songs are a source of comfort and solace for me. They kick me out of apathy and into action. They remind me that we can do big things together. They remind me that we can make the world a bit more beautiful by putting some elbow grease into our hopes.

I hope this time capsule gives you a little bit of hope today,

Sam & Hello Emerson

-----

Credits

Sam Bodary - songs, guitar, voice

Dan Seibert - percussion, musical direction

Jack Doran - keyboards

Eli Chambers - bass

Erin Mason - voice

Anna Miller - cello

Devin Copfer - violin

Leah Anderson - violin

Rachael Keplin - viola

Lee Tucker - trumpet

Nick Weckman - trombone

Alex Burgoyne - saxophone

Jon Weisbrot - saxophone

Tony Rice - live sound

Victoria Butash - mix

Reece Thompson - video

Ace of Cups - venue