When I’m forced to watch American Idol, it is always remarkable how simple finding “it” really is. By the time episode three or four rolls around, it’s evident who belongs and who doesn’t. While most singers make you feel some sense of nervousness for them, the real contenders are, in every case, the ones who make their performance seem all so effortless. More than just talent, they have that indefinable glint in their eye—the ones who just have “it.” This was just the case for the performers on a Sunday evening at the Red Devil Lounge in San Francisco.
The night began with a veteran of the West Coast music scene, Brittany Shane. Singing many of her songs included in the soundtrack of the independent flick The Village Barbershop, Brittany performed an uncharacteristic solo acoustic show. Her pure, easy style included nods to some of her influences Beth Orton, Liz Phair, Susanna Hoffs, Lucinda Williams, Patty Griffin and most notably to me, Mazzy Star and PJ Harvey. Her songs, produced by Zack Smith, founder of the Patty Smyth 80s band Scandal, were the perfect setup for the evening to come.
While the crowd was polite and appreciative, it was evident that the next artist was the person they had truly come to see. Also appearing solo, Meiko took the stage and rather tentatively began her set. Her initial foot-shuffling nervousness quickly gave way to a quirky, playful, endearing and thoroughly professional stage presence filled with sophisticated songwriting and soulful vocals. Singing “How Lucky We Are” (affectionately known as “The Shitty Apartment”), “Reasons to Love You,” featured on Grey’s Anatomy, and “Hiding,” she began to share both real and imagined life experiences.
Interspersed with stories of being chased by a rock-throwing homeowner at a house party in Hawaii (prompting the writing of the song by the same name), a fan letter she wrote to the Tanner girls from Full House (still no reply) and rescuing her battered guitar from an animal shelter for musical instruments, the acoustic versions of her music left absolutely nothing for her startlingly beautiful voice to hide behind. This was a good thing. The highlight of her evening-stealing set came with a graceful, breathy and mischievous performance of “Real, Real Sweet,” written to torment a blog-stalker she once endured. Sounding like a brilliant combination of Regina Spektor, Emiliana Torrini and Norah Jones, Meiko definitely hit the real, real sweet spot with the crowd.
Taking the stage and looking very much the part of a seasoned rocker with her chunky jewelry and chipped black fingernail polish, Mandi Perkins and her band prepared the audience for a stripped down, seated acoustic treatment of their show. Delivering effortlessly powerful music with bittersweet lyrics and tight harmonies, the band tore through the Southern-tinged rock of “You Don’t Know,” the smoldering, building “Everybody Knows” and the powerful “Who I Am.” With intensely personal lyrics like “so you’re waiting for my first big break to find me” and “fear my independence” it’s clear to see the authenticity of Mandi’s cathartic power.
While her music is ever-present on MTV shows including Laguna Beach, The Hills and The Real World, only the thoughtfulness of the lyrics gives any clue that they come from the mind of a Berkeley English honors grad and recent law school graduate. Occasionally liberating herself from a chair—which had no hope of containing her energy anyway—Mandi’s dark songs included her intense cover of “Zombie” by The Cranberries, which was arguably better than the original. A casual look may bring comparisons to Avril Lavigne, her performances conjure images more akin to Evanescence, The Cranberries and Natalie Merchant. Although the acoustic set gave the opportunity for a different interpretation of their songs, it is clear that this band definitely would be at their best on a larger stage.
As Mandi is undoubtedly familiar, Justice Potter Stewart once said “I know it when I see it.” As Samantha Sidley knows all too well, the folks who run American Idol aren’t quite so discerning. Each of the three effortless performances at the Red Devil Lounge on this night were all examples of performers who clearly had “it.”
Artists:
www.myspace.com/meiko
www.mandiperkins.com
www.brittanyshane.com
Albums:
Alice in No Man's Land by Mandi Perkins. Buy it NOW on Amazon.com.
Meiko by Meiko. Buy it NOW on Amazon.com.
Related Articles:
The 2008 Hotel Cafe Tour featuring Meiko – [Live Review]
