"Living Room" Concert at an Instrument Shop

One of my favourite concerts in 2013 was by Chloe Charles. I first heard Charles last year. She was opening for Dr. Draw at the Mod Club. She was spellbinding and unique. My friend and I felt we had to see her again.

Lucky for us, she was playing the following week at Musideum. It’s an intimate space, a rare instruments shop which doubles as a jazz venue. While the setting would’ve been a good fit for quiet chamber music, the sound that night was sweeping and dramatic. Charles’ band included a guitarist, bassist, drummer, violinist and pianist. Charles and the violinists’ harmonies were eerie and beautiful.

It was also a special show because each person was asked to write down feedback after each song. Some songs had never been played in front of an audience before. There is a lot variety in Charles’ songwriting, and the pieces form a unified whole. Her voice is melodious and vibrant; her songs are by turns intense, dreamlike and lively. Most of all, her tunes and presence are memorable.

Hear her at chloecharles.com and buy albums on iTunes. She is currently touring Europe.

 

Drawing at Musideum by J.Jeanes.