NOTE: All photos are copyright of Howard Shiau Photography 2025
Ok so maybe it won’t be the last concert ever but, with the COVID-19 pandemic, voluntary social distancing, and many tours/venues cancelled in the near future, Princess Goes to the Butterfly Museum’s show at Mercury Lounge sure felt like it was going to be the last concert ever.
Princess (I’ll abbreviate from now on), with actor and lead vocalist Michael C Hall (best known for his roles in Dexter and Six Feet Under on television and for his lead role in Hedwig & the Angry Itch on Broadway), drummer Peter Yanowitz (the original drummer from the Wallflowers), and bassist/keyboardist Matt Katz-Bohen (keyboardist for Blondie), also played at Mercury Lounge on February 1st, which happened to be Hall’s birthday. Deborah Harry surprised everyone by joining the band on-stage and leading the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday”.
This show was slightly more sedate given the circumstances and, while reasonably crowded, you could still see the impact that the coronavirus had made upon the concert-going crowd. Those who showed up early were lucky to enjoy the sounds of Pittsburgh-based Swampwalk (aka Anna Hale). Her spot on vocals bring to life her lyrics about living as a young woman in the world today. She is witty, fun, and definitely worth a listen.
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When Princess took the stage, Michael C. Hall was decked out in a ski mask and scarf over his face. Was it protection against the coronavirus or were we in the middle of a bank robbery? Whatever it was, Hall does know how to make an entrance. With Yanowitz dropping the beats, Katz-Bohen providing the tunes, and Hall hitting the high notes, low notes, and everything in between, Princess drove through their setlist pretty quickly, with Hall reminding us, in between songs, to wash our hands. The show ended way too quickly but was a nice way to close out my March concerts (unfortunately).
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