Danielle Helena in concert
Towne Cycles
Adeline Street, Oakland, Cal.
Sept. 22, 2023
The backyard of Towne Cycles on Oakland’s Adeline Street hummed with clinking cans and whispered pleasantries as Danielle Helena, a hometown-raised singer-songwriter who has been building a national following, took the stage as part of Tiny Garage Concert Series’ program on Friday’s Autumn Equinox.
Flanked by Ben Misterka on guitar to her right and Daniela Perez on cajón to her left, Helena held it down on keys and breathtaking vocals that seemed to swim effortlessly from note to note, and brimmed with the sort of power that makes an audience collectively swell with praise. She took us through a mélange of music genres ranging from R&B to pop, with accents of soul and elements of indie rock and jazz. Misterka’s smart voicings and bright tone paired beautifully with Helena’s steady grooves.
Perez made the unfaltering rhythmic heartbeat of the cajón seem easy to invoke. This was the first time the three musicians had played all together, but the tightness of the set and their indisputable chemistry suggested otherwise.
I hadn’t heard Helena, whom I’ve known for nine years, perform for the past four or five. I was moved by how confident she has become as a performer. There were a number of new songs that I was hearing for the first time that showcased how her range of genre, melodies, voicing, and musicianship has expanded.
Among many notable moments at the show was an original called “Falling,” with a descending melodic line at the end of the chorus that brought instant chills: “Whispers wet from smothered lips/My sweat upon your fingertips.” As was “Who Am I,” a song with heart-wrenching lyrics and haunting chords that deals with witnessing how brutal humans can be.
Helena sang, “I glanced your way and saw a tear/I stared in your eyes feeling your fear/I heard your cries/They could have been mine/So who am I ?/I apologize…” and I imagine most people in the yard related as deeply to this enquiry as I did.
Interspersed throughout the set were audience sing-a-longs, free-flowing laughter, and a shared vulnerability that seemed to pour from each corner of the space. Helena announced in her crystalline voice that instead of merch, concertgoers could support her through handmade soaps, candles, and lotion bars she lovingly makes by hand; it was a perfect symbol for what lives at the heart of her music, craft, and work: deep and transformational nourishment.
With this aspect in mind, it dawned on me how ideal a venue this was to see her at. Tiny Garage brings community together the third Friday of every month at the aforementioned backyard of Towne Cycles. For a small $5 donation, guests can spread out their blankets, line the stairs and upper veranda of the building, and enjoy live music from 7 – 10 p.m. There was a beautiful spread of snacks, pumpkin (and various other) beer, and N/A beverages provided by the hosts for folks to enjoy, but guests were welcome to BYOB. Once you walked through the unassuming wooden gate, you were greeted by an intimate space with succulents lining the sides and colorful string lights dancing overhead. The people I met were eager to share both their story of how they came to Tiny Garage and their wine. To see Helena play in a setting like this was a testament to how we nourish each other in community, whether that is through supporting our artists, cultivating safe and nurturing spaces, or the sustenance that art itself provides.
Helena’s set came to a close, and I grasped for each rich note to store in my mind and body, like the final harvest before winter, not wanting the night to end. In the few days that have passed, I am still feeling the high of spontaneous human connection, the warm hug her of Helena’s vocals, and the joyful satiety her music, offerings, the space, and the people provided.
On the label of the soy candle I purchased from Helena after the show are her words, “made with hella love.” Taking in the poetic synchronicity, I chuckled and thought, what an absolutely perfect way to describe the night.
For more information on Danielle Helena’s music, writing, and homemade products, head to her website at https://www.danielle-helena.com/ and follow her on Instagram @daniellehelenamusic.
To find out when you can catch upcoming events with Tiny Garage Concert Series visit their website at https://www.townecycles.com/tiny-garage-series and follow them on Instagram @tinygarageconcerts.
