Shows, Past and Present:

3/15/07 10pm @ Middle East Upstairs
01/16/07 9pm @ The Abbey Lounge
12/15/06 8pm @ PA's Lounge
11/24/06 8pm @ WERS
10/27/06 9pm @ Tommy Doyle's
09/19/06 8pm @ Bill's Bar
08/15/06 10pm @ WBRS 100.1 FM Brandeis /Waltham
08/11/06 9pm @ PA's Lounge
08/06/06 8pm @ Harper's Ferry
07/27/06 8pm @ TT the Bears Place
06/03/06 8:45pm @ PA"s Lounge
05/10/06 8pm @ TT the Bears Place
03/16/06 10:45 PM - The Abbey Lounge
2/23/06 @ PA's Lounge - Somerville, Ma
2/08/06 9pm @ the Middle East Upstairs - Cambridge, Ma
11/9/05 9pm @ The Abbey Lounge - Somerville, Ma
8/16/05 9pm @ Bill's Bar- Boston, Ma
8/6/05 11am @ Union Square Farmer's Market- Somerville, Ma
7/10/05 9pm @ the Middle East Upstairs - Cambridge, Ma
6/1/05 9pm @ The Abbey Lounge - Somerville, Ma
4/24/05 9pm @ TT the Bear's Place - Cambridge, Ma
2/20/05 11:30pm @ the Middle East Upstairs - Cambridge, Ma

Reviews:

Northeast Performer, September 2006

The opening cut on St. Helena's Happy, 'Henderson the Rain King' invokes the titular Saul Bellow character's quest for meaning in his life with the line 'These days are ours to save.' Songwriter Patrick Teahan's vocals soar ominously high as he pleads to the fictional character, 'Wish I could've met you, sir,' as shimmery guitars gauzily drape themselves over the scene. Teahan's lead vocals are charmingly imperfect, with an earnest waver and an understated boldness that recalls Poor Rich Ones.. lead man, William Hut. The title track defiantly offers 'a toast to all the regrets', with Fiona Apple-like piano work propelling the song along. Meanwhile, the driving paranoia of 'Defects' recalls arty Indian popsters the Impossible Shapes, nothing 'There's a satellite that's spinning /Keeping tabs on every move you make' as a discomforting haze of guitar hangs around Teahan's vocals. Perhaps summing up the prevailing sentiment of Happy, 'Simple Life' proves to be no Paris Hilton redux, with the difficulty of fulfilling the stated plea that 'All I want is a simple life with you' shown by the relentless swirl of guitars crashing around throughout the song. Nothing here is simple, Teahan and his bandmates seek to prove, but the songs come together so well that it almost seems that way. St. Helena has crafted smart, insightful rock that never broods, but rather muses thoughtfully. Happy is not a product of exile from the broader scope of life, but a message in a bottle from an outpost of observation- a message worth unraveling. (Self released) ..Georgiana Cohen

The Noise, November 2006

ST. HELENA Happy 7-song CD Happy has quite a lot in its favor. This CD from St. Helena, a musically ambitious rock 'n' roll four-piece, has great production, exemplary musicianship, interesting arrangements, changes in dynamics, fuzzy guitars, and an expressive vocalist who can soar in the falsetto stratosphere. There are two memorable tracks here. The first is the song 'Happy,' a bluesy number that evokes Sweden's The Soundtrack of Our Lives with its piano, tambourine, and crunchy electric guitar. The second is 'Simple Life' with its chunky guitar arrangement and danceable beat. Overall, though, this CD as a whole leaves me with a feeling that something just isn't right with it. The problem is that the songs inhabit a netherworld where they are neither tuneful enough to be catchy nor esoteric enough to sound artsy or experimental. I am left with kind of a bland and whiny-sounding aftertaste, which is disappointing after hearing all the rich musical ingredients in this CD. These musicians clearly are talented; I just wish the songs could do their talent justice. (Robin Umbley)