The Swede in the Machine

The news in Theresa Andersson’s Hummingbird, Go! and subsequent tours has been the batalion of pedals that allow her to create a band environment onstage on her own. But at last night’s DVD recording at Le Petit Theatre, the human elements were the focus on the show. Andersson’s voice helped to create the musical bed in some occasions, and she soared and vamped on top of it in others. Similarly, she often seemed happiest playing percussion, stepping out from behind the rig to play tamborine like part of the second line, or testifying and stomping atop a shallow wooden box. These moments were apiece with the rest of the show despite their lo-tech nature, and they underscored a) the relationship between Hummingbird, Go! and New Orleans, and b) the humanity that drives her machinery.