jolie holland

sometimes it pays to take a bit of a risk music-wise
this lady on tour from the us of a presumably to build the base
the writeup for the show mentioning some big name connections
names as big as m ward who played and produced some tunes with her
a surprisingly small crowd at the basement as she steps on stage
picks up her beautiful acoustic guitar and shows us how to play
one guitar but there's a bass line and a melody coming out
so me thinking if nothing else then musically things are fine
and then soon we hear her strong, accented, versatile vocals
there's an exaggerated texan drawl featured in this tune
making it necessary to concentrate hard on the lyrics
voice and guitar together making for a unique sound
in the second tune she is joined on stage by her band
she is now flanked by a bass and electric guitarist
and a lady up back taking up position on drums
a very well balanced outfit at least aesthetically
with all them now playing it makes for a clean sound
it's a kind of country-rock-americana sound with a twist
that coming in the form of the voice of jolie holland and her lyrics
the first band tune titled the living and the dead quite bittersweet
reminding me of the handsome family seen at this venue also
tonight some more sweet sounding tunes and acerbic words
the band occasionally rocking it out but also holding back
and at times all 4 musicians harmonising on the vocals
the guitarist mixing in sounds and riffs well suited to the tune
none more so than a singing riff on a tune called the littlest birds
jolie holland is also a capable pianist as she switches instruments
adding another dimension to the sound coming from the stage
as the set goes on she seems to loosen up with the audience
between songs she speaks very sweetly about her experiences
making clear reference to a bohemian life lived in new york
she mentions quite a few unheard-of-by-me fellow songwriters
also included is a cover of a bob dylan song that sounds like her own
heading towards the end of the set and the intensity builds
another change of instrument as she picks up a violin / fiddle
proving beyond doubt that she is a supremely talented musician
the set ends as it began with her back in solo mode with her guitar
and an audience totally besotted with her and her music
loud and long applause rewarded with a 2 tune encore
my impression - she could break through big time
everything is in place for that to happen
gorgeous lady, great songs, gifted talent