Earlier that day, not knowing who Nicole Atkins was, I listened to two songs on YouTube. On record, she has a strong, beautiful, and towering voice. I would probably like it to Stacy Dupree, the lead singer of Eisley, every bit as pretty and powerful, but just a tad lower and a little more soulful. It was enough for me to decide to check out the show that night. I walked in expecting a well-defined showcase for that wonderful voice and a fairly relaxed atmosphere. I’m not sure I received any of it, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
There’s always a war within a smaller venue show for an artist with a great voice. Do you soften up everything else and let the voice shine, or do you just say forget it, and rock out? I’ve seen both sides of the equation many times and have been disappointed by both. Most often, I tend to side with the showcase of the voice. When a voice is gorgeous, it almost feels like a waste for it to be muddled by guitar, bass, and drums that are turned up too loud. But tonight was a night for rocking, and that is, exactly what happened.
Continue reading “Show Review: Nicole Atkins, Cotton Jones, That Ghost at Cafe du Nord, 2/16/11”