NIKKI HILL $20 Regular Reserved / $35 VIP Reserved
VIP Doors: 6:00 pm
Meet & Greets: 6:30-7:00 pm
GA Doors: 7:00 pm
Show Start: 8:00 pm
Independence has always come easy for vocalist/lyricist/bandleader
Nikki Hill, raised by a single mother and two older sisters in close
quarters throughout Durham, North Carolina. This inspired not only her
confidence at a young age, but a self-reliance and strong curiosity,
which informed Hill’s interest in art, reading and writing. The
moment she could break free from the long Sunday sermons and weekday
choir practices, Nikki traded the pews for barstools, sneaking into
venues when necessary, and was soon immersed in North Carolina’s
roots scene. She felt oddly comfortable, finding a direct connection
between the energy she saw at local shows in Chapel Hill, and the
intense praise dancing, gospel shouting church services she attended
and sang with up until she was a teen. Seeing everything from Dexter
Romweber to Carolina Chocolate Drops, Bo Diddley to Motorhead, her new
sermons came from rockers and bartenders, cowpunks and starving
artists. Everyone had a story, and very soon, Nikki was in the mix
herself, immersed in music, getting into trouble, and making stories
of her own.
Hill was always happy to lend her harmonies to bands around town but
not much more. But when meeting Matt Hill in 2005, they both found a
young friend in each other who could talk just as much about
Lightnin’ Hopkins as they could Bon Scott era AC/DC. Nikki and Matt
eventually married in 2011. For the pair, it was a friendship turned
loving relationship that encouraged both to pursue all life could
offer. Nikki also gained a partner who musically understood and
supported her ideas. She learned quickly, putting her thoughts into
action, and piecing together writing she had saved over the years.
Moving to St. Louis after they married to help boost Matt’s own
touring career and supporting his solo albums, the pair performed as a
duo between Matt’s tours, making money where they could, and giving
Nikki a chance to practice and write in between her jobs. Landing a
local venue show with other musicians, Hill’s voice quickly rang
across St. Louis and she shifted to performing with a full band,
asking Matt to play guitar. Nikki’s live shows became quickly known
in St. Louis and Chicago for their energy, unique sound, the loving
vibe of her and Matt’s interactions, and for her charisma, already
highly developed from her pentecostal roots and studying the greats.
By the time Hill released “Here’s Nikki Hill” in 2013, word had
spread, for better or worse. The reputation of the live show preceded
itself, and heavily. Still, all of this did not translate immediately.
With the rarity of modern young black rock ‘n roll
singers/entertainers without a long standing career like powerhouses
Barrence Whitfield or Lisa Kekaula or Fishbone, Hill found herself in
an odd spot, shuffling often between confused local audiences, who had
clearly come to see the woman on the poster, wearing a headwrap or
natural hairstyle with quasi-retro leanings, and shockingly receiving
an unbridled, electric guitar driven performance. But, instead of
frustrating, it encouraged Nikki to push herself to the limit in
commanding the stage, and showing people that rock n’ roll didn’t
have one look or sound. The strong public curiosity allowed Hill the
chance to open for a range of artists from Billy Boy Arnold, to Eileen
Jewel, to Nelly, before she even had music released. Labels came
calling, but were looking for stylings of the more well-known Hill, or
of a more boxed in retro feel that could be fully embraced by the
purists Nikki had come to abhor from her former years of teen
rebellion. Nikki’s DIY upbringing deflected this path, and moved
forward to continue developing her sound, where there is a pulpit in
the garage; where the girl group turns up the guitar, where southern
twang cuts through heavy soul groove.
Hill, with Matt on guitar and a changing rhythm section, played over
20 festivals and close to 200 venue shows in 2013, building audiences
across the US and Europe. She also recorded with Deke Dickerson and
The Bo-Keys in Memphis, TN, lending her voice to the “Soul Meets
Country” EP, expressing yet another side of her limitless enthusiasm
for all things roots. Nikki and Matt also moved to New Orleans, LA,
returning to the south, and picking up influence through the Gulf
Coast. The momentum continued through the release of her second album
“Heavy Hearts Hard Fists” in 2015. With fiery soul and heavy R&B
with rock n’ roll boogie and tons of attitude to match, the album
was received with many accolades from press and fans and kept Hill
touring in the US and Europe, adding Australia and India and Morocco
to an already impressive tour schedule, and over 30 festivals a year,
including Montreux Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Byron Bay
Blues Festival and more.
Nikki’s new record, “Feline Roots” will be independently
released again on house label Deep Fryed Records. Out November 16,
Hill lets her soul rip on this new collection of songs, displaying her
now well-known stance to champion for the pioneers of roots and rock
n’ roll, while remaining in perpetual forward motion, inviting
anyone who wants to come along for the journey. Johnny Thunders
straddling guitar, Bad Brains’ rock meets reggae, Stonesy groove,
Sister Rosetta Tharpe rave up rockin’ gospel power, all receive nods
of recognition. Hill is unafraid of her past or experiences, and puts
it out there for the sake of the song. The songs imagine the southern
soul rocker at times waving her flag in surrender, then in the next
moment finding her way back into the climb, bending through
supercharged blues, punk soul, revival tent gospel, rockabilly shouts,
whatever it takes to get there. It’s her version of rock n’ roll
that can only come from her stories. Nikki has never been afraid to
take the road less traveled, and it’s clear with “Feline Roots”
that she’s living every word.
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27/02/2020 Last update