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SQUEEZEBOX MAMA

SQUEEZEBOX
Robert Smith

Singer-songwriter
Cynthia Hopkins brings her band Gloria Deluxe to Pete’s Candy
Store (709 Lorimer St. at Richardson Street, Williamsburg) on
Aug. 29 at 10 pm.



Based on past experience – the band has also performed at the
Living Room, BAM Cafe, the Knitting Factory and Joe’s Pub at
the Public Theater – their performance promises to be both sultry
and witty.



Forsaking the traditional lead singer’s approach to performing
live – simply walking from one end of the stage to the other
and singing into a handheld mic – Hopkins takes her onstage act
to new heights.



When Gloria Deluxe took the Prospect Park bandshell stage prior
to the Celebrate Brooklyn screening of "Blue Angel"
earlier this month, the singer stepped out in an ensemble that
was clearly a tribute to the vamp style of the platinum-haired
star of the film, Marlene Dietrich. Much to the astonishment
of Celebrate Brooklyn producer Jack Walsh, Hopkins was decked
out in a delicious blonde wig, top hat and tails – over a brief
cocktail dress.



During her performance, she played the accordion, the guitar
and sang her wry and infectious high-energy fables of love, loss
and UFOs – all laced with a bit of country twang. And if you
weren’t already impressed by her vocals, her obvious embrace
of the theatrical possibilities of the bandshell’s recently renovated
lighting system won you over. She slowly peeled away her coat,
writhed on the floor and with a breathtaking tip of her top hat,
and swish of her golden locks, the crooner swirled glittery fairy
dust around the stage.



Gloria Deluxe – which also includes bassist Chris Bonner and
guitarist Tom Hopkins and is frequently accompanied by John Mettam
on drums, Curtis Hasselbring on trombone and Cuong Vu on trumpet
– gave a darn good performance for three bucks.



Hopkins, a former subway performer, named her band after an accordion
she inherited from a drag queen poet and graduate student named
Candy.



There is no cover charge for the Pete’s Candy Store performance.
For more information call (718) 302-3770 or visit www.petescandystore.com
on the Web.