I won free tickets from KUT to see Neko Case tonight. Asenath went with me and we arrived a couple of songs into her first set. Since neither of us had heard more than a few of her songs before, we weren’t sure it was her: she didn’t look like her cover photos and was extremely low-key in a t-shirt with a slide guitarist, stand-up bassist and back-up singer on stage with her. The first couple of songs reminded me of the Sundays a bit and then she switched into a mode of channeling Loretta Lynn. She has a nice voice with a good range and her guitar playing was up to snuff. After reading people going ga-ga over her, I was was somewhat underwhelmed for the first few songs.
Her music sounds like a lot of music in Austin. A little jazz, a little country, a little girl-with-a-guitar folk. It made me realize that in other cities 1) people probably don’t get a lot of that combo; 2) it may be rare for an earthy girl in a t-shirt who’s actually a good musician to get up on stage and perform a solid low-key set with other good musicians.
As the set went on, Neko Case grew on me. She seemed very relaxed and bantered well with the audience and her bandmates. She played an old Hank Williams song. I realized that if I knew the words to the originals she was playing I may be all dreamy-eyed and thrilled that I was hearing her live. A couple of songs really grabbed me and had me swaying. I didn’t hear anything that would inspire the fervent devotion of many of her fans, but I had a nice night.
And, as always, Asenath rocked.
Kia | 09-Aug-03 at 12:30 am | Permalink
I saw her in Seattle, back in the day. I actually fell asleep listening to her set, standing up, well, leaning against a wall.
I think she is good but sometimes overrated.
Asenath rocks, but you rock too, you know.
abby | 13-Aug-03 at 3:56 pm | Permalink
i kept meaning to get to her shows in Seattle–she always sells out the Crocodile. then she moved away to Chicago and it got even harder to get tickets for her rarer Seattle appearances. i have Blacklisted and it’s one of my favorites, but i agree that she’s a bit overrated. i can’t figure out whether it’s her voice or the fact that unless she does covers, her lyrics are somewhat… esoteric.
sometimes a nice night out listening to talented performers is better than a rocking night out with a really crappy crowd. fortunately they were all in good company–yours.