melody
-
Artist:
-
Track:Blue Motel Room
I was the last person who could squeeze into the tiny club on Allen Street last Saturday night. I was practically pinned against the door. But I stayed to see all of Melody Gardot's set. She is quietly riveting, cool and congenial, and wildly gifted. It reminded me, a little, of seeing Jeff Buckley for the first time at Sin-e, or Nellie McKay for the first time at Sidewalk. She has that kind of effect: very seductive.Because of a bad accident she had a few years ago at 19, she always wears shades (her eyes are very sensitive to light), and she walks with the aid of a cane. But after a few minutes, you don't even notice; you see her hair, long and parted like a Shangri-La, you see her sly smile, hear her casual banter with her fans, and get engaged in her voice, which has a slight touch of Madeline Peyroux, without the Billie Holiday tinge. If you live around Philadelphia, I'm probably not telling you anything you don't already know. But she was a surprise to me. She has an album available, "Worrisome Heart," and the other night she played a couple of brand new songs that will, I surmise, turn up on her next, major-label, album. 
Comments (3)