Goodnight Moonshine, Josiah VenterSpace BallroomHamdenJan. 10, 2026 Forget rapturous applause. The silence of children might be the true barometer of a great show, as evidence by Saturday’s Goodnight Moonshine concert. Kids filled the crowd, and made not a single disturbance. Perched quiet ly in chairs with eyes fixed on the stage, they were clearly captivated like all the adults that night. The Hamden-based duo performed at Space Ballroom to celebrate the release of their third album, “Business Unusual,” an album that balances vulnerability, humor and philosophical curiosity with ease. It was the most packed this reviewer has ever seen Space Ballroom, and she’s been to a lot of shows there. Every seat was occupied. The rest of the standing crowd filled every space along the side and back walls. It seemed like people from all corners of the community came out to see the talented folk singer-musicians perform. “I suspect a lot of you were invited by my mom,” joked Molly Venter, lead singer of the group, as she took in the crowd from the stage. At one moment, she pointed out her favorite elementary school teacher. “I’ve known them since they were born,” whispered a man in the audience about Venter and her brother Josiah Venter, who opened the show with a beautifully minimalist set. Adding to the close-knit energy in the room, Adam Chilenski, the bass player who joined Goodnight Moonshine for the evening, was Venter’s husband Eben Pariser’s (the other half of the duo) friend since the second grade, Venter was dressed in a sequin dress that she enthusiastically told the audience she bought at the Salvation Army on Dixwell. That elicited a chorus of laughter that happened throughout the evening as Venter and Pariser showcased their vibrant personalities and serious musical chops. Commanding vocals, effortless guitar playing and straight-to-the-heart storytelling are hallmarks of Goodnight Moonshine’s music. Songs ran the spectrum from boot-stomping, handclapping and audience-participation-mandatory records (“You guys are in the pocket,” marveled Eben) to atmospheric and silky sweet moments that hushed the room. Lyrics ranged from musings on domestic life to contemplations on the meaning of life. A lively tambourine made its welcome jangling appearance on a few rollicking songs. Venter’s a dynamo and her witty personality shone through on “All Babies are Beautiful,” inspired by her and Pariser’s tough time raising newborn twins and a four-year-old during the height of Covid lockdown. “All my days are a wash/I don’t mean I’m doing any washing/I mean I’m letting things get filthy,” sang Venter with a nod and wink to the audience. The parents in the crowd laughed in solidarity. The night turned introspective when Venter sang “Stars,” a song she wrote years ago after a singular experience driving in the desert listening to self-help author Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now. She said that suddenly everything looked like it was made of silver glitter, and her whole perception changed. That night, she realized that death is not a problem, because as the song goes, “this all made up of stars.” Goodnight Moonshine’s performances of The Beatles’ “Blackbird” and Jacob Collier’s “Little Blue” were riveting. Parister and Venter’s voices nimbly meshed melodies and lyrics into a creative mashup that felt both reverent and inventive. Then came endearing songs dedicated to their twins and New Haven – “Mystic Creatures” and “Somebody’s Child,” respectively, grounding the evening once again in love. Pity to those who were not present to hear Venter belt Édith Piaf’s “La Vie en Rose.” (Venter’s mother was a French teacher.) It was a sublime way to close the evening, her voice soaring with controlled force. Pariser told the audience that though they’ve performed in major cities like Boston and New York – sometimes even with luminaries in the audience – their show at Space was the best show by far. “It doesn’t get any better than to have your people in the room,” said Pariser. And the people in the room gave Goodnight Moonshine a standing ovation. The post Album Drop Turns Into A Homecoming appeared first on New Haven Independent. ...read more read less