"Smokey and Miho" - Return of Viper Music
By: W. Dire Wolff
(thanks to Derek Allan for his notes from the Knitting Factory)

Click Here for More Info

January 2002 was the west coast debut of Miho's solo venture into Brazilian music. Performing at the Yerba Buena Performing Arts Center Faux Party in San Francisco, "Smokey and Miho" brought their show to the other side of America. "Smokey and Miho" had their first performance in New York City in December of the year 2000. The music is inspired by music from 1960's Brazil. They cover songs by composers such as Baden Powell, Vinicius De Moraes, Edu Lobo, Jorge Ben, and Tom Jobim. In addition they are writing their own material which captures that 60's Samba fever. Two days later they played a "sold out" show at The Make Out Room in San Francisco's Mission District. After two shows in San Francisco, the band headed down to LA for a show at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood. All the shows were quite successful and it was a great way to start the new year.

The band is centered around Smokey Hormel on acoustic guitar and vocals and Miho on vocals. The other members of the band are all professionals in their own right. Don Falzone plays acoustic upright bass, Joey Waronker on drums, Cibo Matto's Ganda on backing vocals, and Jon Birdsong is featured on the trumpet and horns.

"When Beck and Cibo Matto toured together several years ago, the two struck up a friendship based on their mutual interest and love of Brazilian music. With a talented all-acoustic combo, Smokey & Miho perform songs by Baden Powell, Vinicius De Moraes, Edu Lobo, Jorge Ben, Tom Jobim and their own compositions inspired by 60s Brazil - songs of lovers, liars, saudade (sweet sorrow), and Iemanja (the goddess of the sea). " - From Cibo Matto Web Site

The Faux Party at the Yerba Buena Performing Arts Center was a big party with many people in costumes. The theme of the party was to come as something you are not. The mood was festive. The stage and sound system wasn't very good. The vocals were hard to hear. It was hard for the audience to hear the vocals, and the monitors were useless for the singers. The main speakers were hung from the ceiling and the sound booth was located out of an upstairs window, so the sound guy couldn't tell what was happening on the floor. I was standing by the monitor and knew they couldn't hear themselves. Despite problems with the sound system, they were real troopers and put on a really good show.

People were dancing and the music was perfect for the costumed festivities. Miho was wearing a bright plastic mini dress and matching hat, that was very 60s. Her outfit reflected the spirit of the evening. The show at the Yerba Buena Performing Arts Center was more about the party, than watching the performance, I enjoyed both.

Two nights later on January 28, 2002 found "Smokey and Miho" performing at the Make Out Room in San Francisco's Mission District. It was the full moon, the Wolf moon no less... The Make Out room is a funky little club in the Mission. It has a lot of soul. Despite a cold rain on a Monday night, the show sold out and the place was packed with party people. On the wall behind the stage there was a big red theater curtain, with those big golden ropes with tassels. It created the perfect backdrop for this music from another time.

The show started a little after 9 PM and the band played two sets. The sound was really good up front and everyone could hear each other on stage. Miho was singing like the siren that she is, and the band was really on.

Sometimes Smokey mentioned a song was by Baden Powell, Vinicius De Moraes, Edu Lobo, or Jorge Ben. I didn't know the names of the songs, but they were all really good. They played an original song, "Ocean in Your Eyes" in both sets. The Brazilian based music went from quiet melodies to rowdy sambas.

There is real beauty in watching Smokey and Miho work together. Smokey is such a master and conductor of the band. He is directing everyone musically and sets Miho up to perform her best. Smokey understands the unique marvel of Miho, and is very happy to have this chance to be there working with her. Musically he watches out for her and nurtures the finer qualities of her voice. That was really nice to see.

Smokey is on guitar and he works with the drums and bass to hold down the rhythm. You can see the three of them working together as a team. Then you have Jon Birdsong playing these really beautiful horn melodies. Ralph Carney was invited to play, helping Jon on the brass. The brass is the magic for the mood and ambiance. The musicians are modest in their handling of their instruments, yet professionals to the mark. They can bring the jazz music tight and low, while keeping the energy high. This is viper music, as it was meant to be.

On top of this really great acoustic Brazilian jazz band are the beautiful vocals. Perhaps Miho is the star of the show, but Ganda is a sexy and soulful singer in her own right. Ganda worked with Cibo Matto, and she and Miho are really joined together in their harmonies. This band has some very tight and sparkling vocal harmonies. The band takes everything up, then pushes it up another notch or two. They hit the really high, fast notes of the Brazilian music together.

For the Make Out Room show, Miho wore a slinky black dress that was simple and cute. Ganda was wearing black lingerie. They looked great. Miho was barefoot in her black dress talking about full moons and pagans, the effect was perfect.

Miho talked to the crowd between songs. She told everyone how much she loved San Francisco. Miho and Smokey talked about how much they love playing the Brazilian music. She invited everyone to join them in their Brazilian musical adventure.

At one point in the show, Smokey used a bar glass to play slide guitar on his nylon string classical guitar. He was totally on, and the crowd ate it up. It was one of those magical evenings and every note seemed to find it's mark.

The great music from the night at the Make Out Room was carried down to Los Angeles for the show at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood. Beck was reported to have been seen at the show, talking with some of his bandmates who were performing that night. Greg Kurstin from Action Figure Party was spotted in attendance as well. It was the first time that the new five song EP was available to the public. It includes the songs Ocean in Your Eyes, Blue Glasses, Nzage, Summer Rain, and Orixa & Iemanja (the goddess of the sea).

Smokey and Miho have been in the studio working on various recordings. Their first recorded original song, 'Ocean In Your Eyes' is on the soundtrack to Alphonso Couran's Y Tu Mama Tambien. The movie hit Number One with a bullet in Mexico, and was nominated for a Golden Globe for best foreign film.

For me watching "Smokey and Miho" was seeing the circle of the Cibo Matto family moving forward. Yuka wasn't there, but this was something they started together. The Smokey and Miho show is like the song Theme from Viva! coming to life. It is Miho as the sexy singer wearing the black dress in the fancy cocktail lounge or jazz club. This is viper music. It is the living creation of an understated theme from their other projects together, and now she is going beyond...

Click for More

Photos by Masterplan3000 - Use Limited by Permission

Click to subscribe to osafrosambas

Members Click Here