Rae Hammond has been singing and playing and making waves with several bands in Budapest over the last few months, including Mookie Brando and the Second Cousins, The Poosta Ramblers, and Zoldhullam .

"Sugar Rae Hammond, leader of Rae and the Sugars, is one of the finest - if not the finest - voices of our musical village. If I had to use one word to describe her stage presence, singing and writing, I would say "texture". This woman has depth in all aspects that separate great performers from the rest and a sense of texture that is truly unique. If you have a chance to hear her - whether it is in the US, Europe, the UK or South Africa, or on your headphones or home speakers - then don't cheat yourself. Listen. It could very well touch you." - Mookie Brando, Budapest, 2010.

She gave her first solo concert Monday night at Treehugger Dan's. She formed Rae and the Sugars to produce her first EP, Paper Basement, produced by Mookie Brando. The concert also served as an album launch. The Sugars include Mookie Brando, Eric Bosque, Jerome Li Thiao Te, Michael Kentish and Greg Zeigler (who was on holiday, so not there Monday).

Gabor Bihari and Lori Kegl surprised Rae with an opening song, "Goodbye Stranger" by Supertramp. The first set was made up of covers, including some of my favorite songs like "Have a Little Faith in Me" by John Hiatt,
and "Leather and Lace" by Stevie Nicks. It also included a wild surprise, a Rae Hammond original, "Treehugger Dan's" See Gabor Mandy's phone video here

The second half began with a surprise for Rae. She had been lobbying me for months to pick up my guitar again and sing for her at her concert. After 13 years of not touching my guitar, I staunchly refused until about
2 weeks ago when I called s couple of the old band mates from Captain Pedantic and the Scurvy Dogs, Nick Palmer and Marton Balo, and asked if they could help me out doing one song for Rae as a surprise. I think I was
just as shocked to pick up the guitar and sing again as she was to see me on stage after the break. We sang a Captain Pedantic original, "I Love This Country," about some of the things we actually love about Hungary,
and some things that could be improved, but certainly quite a few things Rae is going to miss one way or another and help bring her back in the near future. See Gabor Mandy's phone video here

Good luck in the US and South Africa Rae!

Set List:
Let her cry - Hootie & the Blowfish
Simple Things - Gary Taylor of 'Speedway'
Lonely Girls - Lucinda Williams
Treehugger Dan's (Rae Hammond)
Leather and Lace - Stevie Nicks
I don't wanna wait - Paula Cole
Have a little faith in me - John Hiatt
Shine a light - Mookie Brando
-Break-
I love this country - Captain Pedantic and the Scurvy Dogs
Up shit creek! (Rae Hammond)
Folding (Rae Hammond)
Save me (Rae Hammond)
Don't leave (Rae Hammond)
Your Dad (Rae Hammond)
Traveling Buskers (Rae Hammond)
Private Vineyard (Rae Hammond)
I'm not far behind (Rae Hammond)

Come away with me (Norah Jones)

new webpages:
http://www.myspace.com/raeandthesugars
http://www.facebook.com/raeandthesugars