Como Zoo’s free concerts bring people (and flowers) together

By: Megan Hoff

After one of the snowiest Februarys on record, a humid room filled with plants is a nice place to take a break from the weather. On Feb. 17, people gathered in the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at the Como Park Zoo to listen to music, admire the flowers, and enjoy the warmth; free performances take place in the beautiful glass building every Sunday during the first eight weeks of the year.

Lydia Liza was the sixth performer of the zoo’s “Music Under Glass” series. Formerly a member of Bomba de Luz, she started off her set with a few solo songs. Her soulful voice was only accompanied by her guitar and the sound of flowing water from a narrow pond in the center of the room. She captivated the crowd with her mellow indie sound, arching vocals, and, for one particular song, her impressive range of whistling.

People young and old packed the tropical space, some standing, some sitting cross-legged on the floor. The rest of the band joined her after a few songs, bringing depth and some harder alt-rock vibes to the performance. They played a few Bomba de Luz songs, including “Phantoms” off of their 2012 album, “What a Heavy Weight.”

The setting made for a relaxing concert venue. Flowers in reds, purples, and pinks filled the space with color and pleasant scents. The gaps between the songs were a little longer than usual—the guitars needed to be constantly tuned because of the humidity.

Though it was gray and overcast outside, the room was filled with light. People bobbed and swayed to the music, and one little girl showed off her dance moves. During one of the tuning breaks, Liza complemented the crowd: “You guys are just as pretty as the flowers.” Nothing like some good sound and color to beat the winter blues.