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Katell Keineg and Ann Scott Are Toast of the Town A Kweevak.com Rock Report by JL Hannah Sure, we all celebrate our Irish roots each year on St. Patty's Day, but things got started a bit early this year when more than a few Irish came out Friday night to The Living Room in The Village, NYC to see two of their own perform. Katell Keineg & Ann Scott played 2 engaging sets (seperate and together) of singer-songwriter songs, sung oh so well.
 Katell Keineg has found a home in New York City! Katell Keineg, who has spent much of her life in Ireland & Wales, is probably best known (or almost known, or indirectly known ?) for penning the song, "The Gulf of Araby", which was covered and recorded by Natalie Merchant on her Live in NYC cd. Merchant sings it wonderfully. Yes, Merchant sings every word of every song wonderfully. 'Tis her gift. So, I guess I never felt the need to hear anyone else sing this powerful song, even though I knew someone other than Natalie wrote it. Last year though, whilst poking around cdbaby.com, I made my way to Katell Keineg's song sample page and out of curiosity streamed, and then bought the version by the author. Wow !...that's all I'm gonna say. If hearing is believing...and believe me, in this case it is...you just gotta hear this one. I guarantee you that it's about the best 99 cents you'll ever spend on itunes. This is the stuff that inspires struggling artists to keep at it, reminding us that the magic exists, and it can peek thru now and then, and without alot of instrumentation and processing. Katell Keineg speaks to that reality. As one of the wise Irish pubbers I met at the bar that night pointed out ..."That's why you're here. There's a primal thing goin' on, where her voice connects with your ancestry." Well said sir...well said. Katell Keineg, and her art, are much more than that one song..."The Gulf of Araby". But, to downplay the subtle power of that song, and what it's meant to her career, would be disingenuous. Enough said on that tune. During her set, Katell sung and spoke of greek mythology, assholes, Led Zepplin and life...in no particular order. In fact, an early tune of hers, "One Hell of a Life" is another great song, which she performed that night, along with several from her most recent cd release, High July. These included, "Franklin" & "On Yer Way". She closed the night by encoring with the Gulf, voiced still fresh and endearing after all these years, wrapping up a 4-Friday-in-a-row Living Room stand. As I watched Ann Scott perform what I believe was her NYC debut, I couldn't help but think to myself... "Man, If Donovan has a daughter (and he probably does ?). Anyway, if Donovan has a daughter, well, she could be Dubliner Ann Scott. Sorry for the label, but this is a compliment, on many levels. I just couldn't help but see him in her face and eyes, and of course in the haunting quality of her songs. One example, which she performed friday, is the song "Mountain" off of her most recent release, "We're Smiling Out Now". As I streamed it the other day, I couldn't quite grasp where the hauntiness of it was coming from. Turns out they used a baritone guitar tuned all the way down to B to get all that spookiness. This night though it came from a wonderful cellist, Kim Porcelli, who accompanied her on several songs, as well as accompanying Scott & Keineg together on another number. Ann is perhaps too young to know Donovan, but never too young or old to dig Donovan's Hurdy Gurdy Man, which interestingly includes a young studio guitarist named Jimmy Page playing that haunting guitar line. Keyboardist Ed Pastorini also sat in on several tunes for both artists this night. Ann Scott is performing one more NYC date on tuesday, March 6, 2007 at Rockwood Music Hall. Ya better get there early!
 Ann Scott - Amazing Irish Export! As I like to say, "If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a recording must be worth at least that, right?", so have a listen, and a look, yourself at:
• www.myspace.com/katellkeineg Yes, the Irish are comin' still on March 17th, and I say...Welcome...and Slainte! Originally Published: 03/03/2007 on Kweevak.com |
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