There’s little bombast when it comes to Edmonson’s hushed, yet wistful voice. Her songs tease the ears with a mix of winsome jazz and singer/songwriter longing.
Edmonson recently rolled into Annapolis, Maryland’s Rams
Head On Stage for the third time in the last two years in support of her third
and most recent album, The Big Picture.
Dressed in a red cocktail dress, the pixie haired Edmonson hit the stage with her backing band and led the night off with the totally swinging “Rainy Day Woman,” a song that easily could have been performed by the late Amy Winehouse. The jazzy and sultry “Oh My Love” followed and wooed the room.
Edmonson explained that on the next song, the jaunty “Dark
Cloud,” that she “used to sing it on the subway to keep myself entertained” and
just had to record it. Her ability to go from blissful to somber was evident as
she transitioned into “You Can’t Break My Heart,” where she croons, “Who do you
think you are walking out on me?” with defiant heartache.
On the jazz influenced “Champagne” Edmonson laments “I’m
never gonna drink again,” and follows that false promise with “champagne does
it every time.” It’s relatable even if your poison is whisky and not champagne.
The French tinged “I’m Not in Love,” a song awash with
accordion, led the way into a gorgeous version of “Long Way Home.”
One of the finest moments of the night was when she
performed a song she said was inspired by the passing of her childhood friend
who loved Roy Orbison – “Crying.” While it wasn’t Roy’s legendary song, her
vocals were reminiscent and hit the highs of a personal favorite of mine, alt-country
chanteuse Tift Merritt.
Edmonson carried on with two more slow burners “All The Way”
and “Hopelessly Blue” before striking into the up-tempo (for her) “Avion,”
which was probably the most “rocking” song in her set. “Avion” is one of those
songs that would set even the hardest Pitchfork writer’s heart a flutter with a
sound reminiscent of Belle and Sebastian or Camera Obscura. After that,
Edmonson paid tribute to Texas’s own Alejandro Escovedo with her version of
“Sensitive Boys” which stoked a fire for her most well-known song, the
breathtaking, “Lucky” which she opened with in previous shows in Annapolis.
Ending her set, Kat went with another “rocker” “I Don’t Know.”
Naturally, the appreciative Ram’s Head crowd pled for an
encore and Kat delivered with steamy version of the Cure classic “Just Like
Heaven.” Fitting, for an otherworldly performance from an understated, yet heavenly
talent.
Scott
Scott
Great review! She sounds delightful.
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