Review: Storm Large Holiday Ordeal

Today, we attended Storm Large's Holiday Ordeal concert at Bing Concert Hall in Stanford, CA.

What better way to spend a holiday than with Storm Large? Storm will love you, leave you, delight you and abuse you with wicked charm and stunning vocals ‘till you’re begging for more. Holiday Ordeal is a night of music, gags, and gifts, with songs ranging from “2000 Miles,” “Hallelujah,” and “Sock it to Me Santa,” to the greatest holiday song never written for the holidays, “Somebody to Love.”

Before the concert, we met our friends at 19:10 at Rangoon Ruby Burmese Restaurant in Palo Alto, where we ordered several dinner entrees, including the following:

• Coconut Noodle Soup (Ohnon Kaw Swe)
• Biryani
• Tea Leaf Salad (Romaine, Dry Shrimp)
• Hot Tea

The service was sluggish, but the entrees were delicious. I really enjoyed the Tea Leaf Salad and Biryani.

After dinner, we drove to Bing Concert Hall in Stanford, parking nearby. We found some tables for us and our friends inside the Studio - a small venue downstairs. I purchased some bottled water and waited for the concert to begin.

I had never heard of Storm Large before, though I was told that she was a backup singer for Pink Martini. I have noticed a few videos on YouTube, and her voice sounded clear. 

The band came on stage, followed by Storm Large, dressed in a sheer dress with a Christmas hat (and blue-colored hair).

She sang the following songs during the 60-minute concert at 21:00. She sometimes played her tiny guitar/ukulele.

• "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)" is a song written by the team of Jay Livingston and Ray Evans that was first published in 1955
• "A Hazy Shade of Winter" is a song by American music duo Simon & Garfunkel, released on October 22, 1966
• "River" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell from her 1971 album Blue.
• "You can take my clothes off." by Storm Large.
• "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" is a 1974 song written by English singer/songwriter Nick Lowe.
• Silent Night
• "O Holy Night" (original title: Cantique de Noël) is a sacred song for Christmas performance. Originally based on a French-language poem by poet Placide Cappeau, written in 1843
• "Dream On" is a power ballad^[3] by Aerosmith from their 1973 eponymous debut album.^[4] Written by lead singer Steven Tyler,
• "True Colors" is a song written by American songwriters Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly.
• "My Vagina" by Storm Large
• "Stand up for me" by Storm Large

I really liked her rendition of "River," "Dream On," "O Holy Night," and "True Colors."

She has an excellent voice, though it sounded raspy on some songs. She was also dressed a bit raunchy (in her sheer dress) and acted the part.

After the concert, we decided to stop by for some hot drinks at Cafe Venetia in Palo Alto.

Inna ordered a Bicerin, while I selected a Hot Chocolate with Cardomam.