On Sept. 6, vocalist/guitarist Isabella DeHerdt and vocalist/percussionist Isaac Eliot, the duo better known as High Tea, released their second full-length album, “A Small Notion,” a work that finds the pair moving their sound forward into some exciting new directions and, for the first time, working with a host of outside musicians.
This week, they mount their most extensive tour to date, one that will bring them through the Northeast and Midwest and conclude with an Oct. 30 full band release show at the Iron Horse in Northampton.
The duo, who have known each other since they were teenagers and now reside in Colrain, began creating music together during the pandemic, writing and recording their 2020 debut album, “Hell of a Ride,” in the Greenfield apartment where they lived at the time.
Since then, they have released two EPs, “Old Cowboy,” in 2021, and “Scuba Diving,” in 2023, toured the U.S., and were nominated for the New England Music Awards Best Americana Act in 2023.
The 12 tracks on the new album showcase the tight harmonies, irresistible melodies, and great guitar riffs we’ve come to expect from the duo. Yet, the overall sound is a fuller and more varied one that they playfully call “Y’alternative.”
DeHerdt, who writes the majority of the lyrics, is more open in her songwriting and doesn’t shy away from tackling some darker subject matter, as themes of death, loss, and the challenges one faces growing up run through this material.
As soon as High Tea released “Ouch, Oh [expletive]”, the record’s first single, we knew that the musical duo was about to share with us a different side of their music. The fierce punk -folk song is about anxiety and the self-critical voices in our heads that are often hard to turn off. Just hearing Eliot scream out lines like “Ouch oh [expletive], there it goes again, That feeling in my chest like a dead end/Ouch oh [expletive], baby I can see/ You’re way too loud and you’re never even nice to me,” makes the song worthwhile.
The accompanying video, produced by Tobias LaMontagne of Ashfield, is a performance piece that captures the explosive energy of the song brilliantly.
“We’ve been getting more and more into our own version of pop punk, and bands like My Chemical Romance are very much Isaac’s background,” said DeHerdt in a phone conversation, days before the album’s release.
“I do like punk,” Eliot confirmed, “and Isabella just blasted out these verses that were really honest and personal and moving. There’s an attitude of sarcastic defiance there that feels really cathartic for me.”
“I always say pop and punk are very similar in that they both talk about big emotions in ways that aren’t always acceptable,” added DeHerdt.
The move to take their sound in a different direction was not a deliberate one.
“As always, we let the songs direct us where we were gonna go, but we also worked with more people on this album than we’ve ever worked with on any artistic project, and there were all these different elements that people brought to the project,” said DeHerdt.
Eliot jumped in to mention that Nate Mondschein, a well-established local musician who produced and played drums and more on the album, was one of those people. He was an excellent arranger, adding elements and layers to their sound as the recording process went along. “He helped us capture the heart and energy of a High Tea performance on this record,” Deherdt said.
Reed Sutherland, another experienced local musician who, along with Mondschein, is part of the Montague-based band Cloudbelly, was brought in to play bass, piano and keyboards. Vocalist/songwriter Corey Laitman lends their beautiful voice to the song “Bittersweet Evenings,” and Chris Freeman from Parsonsfield provides some fiery banjo to a high-energy cover of “Poor Wayfaring Stranger.”
Bringing in outside musicians was both inspiring and energizing for the duo. “One of the best parts of living out here is the music community, having all of these astounding artists that live within 30 minutes of us,” said DeHerdt.
Another significant influence on “A Small Notion” was Heather Maloney. DeHerdt and Eliot have been working with the singer-songwriter from Northampton for the past few years and co-produced and sang harmonies on Maloney’s most recent album, “ Exploding Star,” on which Maloney processes the death of her father. The duo can’t stress enough how much they have learned and grown as musicians from their time working with Maloney.
“Seeing her so unapologetically discuss her truths and hardships with audiences all over the country was beautiful and gave us the knowledge that it’s something you can do and people react well to it,” said DeHerdt, adding that Maloney gave her the desire to go deeper in her own songwriting. Eliot pointed out that this vulnerability can be risky for an artist. “It’s scary new music that has a lot to do with heavier stuff that you aren’t sure people are going to want to follow you into.”
On the title track of the album, DeHerdt beautifully opens up about her grief and loss following her grandfather’s passing. The concluding song, “Shadows in Shadows,” features stunning harmonies with Maloney and delves into the theme of connecting with our ancestors. DeHerdt, whose family has lived in the Ashfield/Greenfield area for five generations, was inspired by her recent move to her great-grandmother’s old home, where old mementos surround her. This song resonates deeply.
“A Small Notion” heralds a vibrant new chapter for High Tea, embracing a richer sound while sharing relatable stories and showcasing extraordinary vocals. It’s a rare album that can make you dance joyfully one moment and tug at your heartstrings the next — truly, the magic of “A Small Notion” is undeniable.
“A Small Notion” is now available on all streaming platforms. For more information or to order vinyl or CD, visit Highteaband.com
Wormtown Music Festival returns
The Wormtown Music Festival will roll into town this weekend, Sept. 12-14, providing festival goers the chance to bid farewell to summer with one of the final outdoor events of the year. The festival, held at Camp Kee-Wanee in Greenfield, will feature over 50 bands playing on three stages, offering a diverse range of music, including rock, folk, reggae, and world music. The music begins early in the day and continues into the late hours. Some of the bands performing include headliners Max Creek, Mihali, The Motet, Lespecial, and Prince/Bowie. Local bands such as the Whiskey Treaty Roadshow, Bella’s Bartok, TapRoots, Outer Stylie, and so many more will be present.
As with all their past festivals, there will be a variety of activities and vendors present, and the family-friendly event has areas set up for fun for kids, tweens, and teens to enjoy. All the information you need is at Wormtownfestival.com. Tickets will be available at the gate.
Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue at Tree House Brewing Co.
The summer stage concert series at Tree House Brewing Co. in South Deerfield will wind down its 2025 season with a show from New Orleans native Trombone Shorty and his band Orleans Avenue on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m. You can expect a fun, energetic New Orleans-style party when Trombone Shorty takes the stage. He plays a style of music called “Supafunkrock” that blends elements of jazz, funk, R&B, rock, and hip-hop with the brass band traditions of his hometown, New Orleans.
Tickets are available at DSPshows.com.
Sheryl Hunter is a freelance writer who resides in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national publications. She can be reached at Soundslocal@yahoo.com.