In the backroom lounge of Mediterranea Cafe, among centuries-old hookah pipes and patterned cushions, a fairy rising from the Underworld sang about darkness — and love, too.
Hell Fairy at Mediterranea Cafe.
Hell Fairy is made up of lead singer Elizabeta (Elizabeth Voytershark), Kiki Van Damn on bass, Joe Russo on drums, and guitarist Dexx (Dexter Lourenco). The band was the first guest on WNHH FM’s new livestreamed concert series called Tuesday @ The Mediterranea Cafe, where local bands will perform in the Italian-Middle Eastern restaurant-hookah bar located at 140 Orange St.
Hell Fairy formed in 2022 and had their first performance in August 2023. The band started with Elizabeta and Joe, who had met years before and remained connected through New Haven’s music scene. Kiki and Dexx joined later.
The rock band, which names Elvis, The Cramps, and Satan as its influences, embraces the flesh of human nature while creating a seductive sound, characterized by Elizabeta’s drawl and the heavy thrum of the band backing her. The band’s open acceptance of darkness is balanced by some sweetness in their songs, as if made tender from friction.
Tuesday’s performance opened with “The Darkness Is You,” a loud, head-banging number that filled the room with shouts from Elizabeta, heavy guitar riffs, and the crashing of drums.
“Can you hear it?” Elizabeta sang to the camera, in front of string lights and an ottoman-turned-chaise lounge. “Don’t be scared / The darkness is you.”
Paul Bass Photo
Elizabeta and Dexx.
During a conversation between songs, Elizabeta explained that she is openly Satanic, and a member of the Church of Satan.
“A lot of people assume that we literally are worshipping Satan, but we just believe in freedom of expression, believing that as an outcast we can find our strength and our power in that,” she said. The song is about how “by absorbing our darkness and embracing our darkness, not just our light, we become truly whole and who we truly are meant to be.”
Hell Fairy played with genre; the next song was a brighter number titled “I Know Nothing,” inspired by a psychedelic experience Elizabeta had in a bathtub. She shuffled her feet and moved around the makeshift stage as she sang, and it was easy to do the same from the audience.
The six-song set continued with a swingy, Southern-style tribute to the Crown Street staple and gay bar Partners; a laid-back number about the literal ghosts that are constantly communicating with the band; and a cathartic, vengeful warning drawing from Connecticut’s haunted doll Annabelle (“I’ll be your Annabelle Annabelle Annabelle doll!”). The band muddled the delineation of their respective roles — Dexx and Joe sang backup vocals, and at one point, Kiki played the harmonica while keeping it going on bass.
Hell Fairy also performed “Why Limit Luv,” their first single — aptly released on Feb. 14 of this year. It’s a beautiful, atmospheric ballad Elizabeta wrote while she was driving and thinking about pursuing a polyamorous relationship. “I’m smiling because you’re silly,” Elizabeta sang, slowly. “Won’t you take over me?”
“I’m in love with you, and you, and you, and you / why limit love?”
Keep an eye out for more music from Hell Fairy — they’re working on their first EP, with hopes of a June 6, 2024 release (AKA 6/6/2+4, or 666). You can catch them live at Cafe Nine on May 28 and June 7.
If your band is interested in performing on Tuesday @ The Mediterranea Cafe, reach out through the “E‑mail the Author” button at the top of this story.
Watch Hell Fairy’s full set in the video at the top of this story.
Setlist:
1. The Darkness Is You
2. I Know Nothing
3. Partners
4. Why Limit Luv
5. There’s A Ghost
6. Annabelle Doll
Paul Bass photo