Girls Just Want To Have Fundamental Rights

A Benefit for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England and Maine Family Planning

Words: Sean Moore / Photos: Kenneth Coles

Port City Music Hall was transformed into an all ages ‘80s dance party Friday night. With an array of local artists brought together by Lisa Boucher Hartman, who dressed as Cyndi Lauper the entire night as she and her band paid tribute to the ‘80s and ‘90s fun-loving pop singer. But, this was much more than your average tribute show. Hartman’s cast of local artists played some specifically chosen Lauper covers, with a few of them played their own original music. The night was a successful showcase of the incredibly talented female musicians in and around Portland, Maine. 

Along for the nostalgic ride were Viva, Katie Matzell, JanaeSound, Dead Gowns, Bri Lane, Brit Martin, Anna Lombard, and Angelikah. This was an all-inclusive night, but not without the reminder that women are still fighting for some very fundamental rights, with a portion of the proceeds going to Maine Family Planning and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England. The venue was packed, thus proving once again that people will come out in droves for tribute shows of music and artists that they love, but also, more importantly, to support a good cause they believe in. 

Opening the night, though, was the magnificently talented Sara Haillie Richardson & the Amarantos Quartet, fiercely talented female string instrumentalists. Sara and the Quartet played a short set of five original songs including “Carry On,” “A New Result,” and “Green Gable” that Sara noted was inspired by none other than Anne of Green Gables. Sara’s voice can only be described as majestic, sounding very classically trained as she stretches notes and hits each high note with the type of athleticism perhaps reserved for the likes of opera singers. She has been playing music in Portland since about 2012, with a stint in Los Angeles. Since returning to Portland has ventured into a musical direction with the orchestra quartet. 

Then, Lisa Boucher Hartman came out in her multi-colored Cyndi Lauper wig and played “Money Changes Everything” and “When You Were Mine,” with her band. It was awesome to see Hartman take the “character” of Cyndi Lauper all the way, as she stayed in character the entire night, even talking like her between songs. It was like Hartman had studied Lauper’s dancing and mannerisms, paying tribute to her not just through songs but through a presentation for the appreciative crowd. The crowd spanned all ages and everyone was singing along to the well-known songs. 

Brit Martin and her accompanying band were the first special guests. They blasted out the title track from Lauper’s album Sisters of Avalon before playing one of their own original tunes. Brit Martin is the lead singer of Tame & Temper who combine a few styles of music to play their own brand of funky, danceable music. 

Viva came out next with her ukulele and played a beautiful version of “The End of the World,” followed by young, rising star Bri Lane who excited the crowd with her single, bass drum pounding at the front of the stage, heading the drumsticks to two young girls in the front afterwards. 

Lauper and her male band returned to continue the dance party with “All Through the Night” and “She Bop,” again taking the tunes from the singer’s debut album. Sometimes, you don’t realize how many songs a musician has that you recognize until you hear them and think to yourself “oh I know THAT one!” I couldn’t help myself from thinking that a couple of times throughout the night, therefore solidifying just how embedded and important Cyndi Lauper’s music has been throughout the past three decades. 

Portland-based singer Angelikah played a flawless version of “Endless Love” and JanaeSound brought the house down with a jaw-dropping performance of her original song “Diamond.” Anna Lombard played a new song on keyboard with her partner Jon Roods joining her on bass. The heartfelt, soulful tune will hopefully appear on a new album from Lombard in the near future. 

As the night carried on and approached the tail end, “True Colors” was performed by Lauper in a quiet moment after lots of energy and dancing. An incredible duo known as Dead Gowns came out and played the Cyndi Lauper tune “Who Let in the Rain,” which was an absolute highlight for me. But, perhaps the most significant highlight of the night was Katie Matzell’s show-stopping “Time After Time.” Katie’s voice just simply knocks you right out of your shoes. It gave me goosebumps. 

And, you cannot have a Cyndi Lauper tribute show without hearing the quintessential ‘80s movie The Goonies theme song. The night ended with the entire room singing and dancing to the most well-known Lauper tune, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” Of course! Everyone had fun and money was raised for both important organizations.