“I run so much further than my father could What a price he paid My mother, she’s a lover, that’s where I get it from What a price she paid”
— Hugo de la Lune, lyrics from “Hugo’s Prayer” off of Act III
Speaking of Total Accord, one of the standout performances at last year’s festival was a 20-minute showcase by Hugo de la Lune aka the “African Dracula.” Last week, he stunned again at two sold out Noise Pop performances at SFJAZZ, where his soul-melting voice was accompanied by a trumpeter, guitarist, and a trio of backup singers.
From the moment he emerged singing from within the crowd, he invited us into a world of familial struggle, lust for life, and otherworldly incantation. The crowd received him with joy and overwhelmed him with love, to the point that he confessed to nearly quitting music despite having multiple releases ready to go. It’s hard being an artist, but if anyone is an artist it’s Hugo de la Lune—feet to crown.
