I caught a fantastic set Monday night by Thao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down at the Knitting Factory.She's often compared to Cat Power, but I think that's kind of lazy...if she must be compared to someone vocally, you'd have to include Joni Mitchell, Sinead O'Connor, and maybe even a little Edie Brickell. And, boy oh boy, can she play guitar. Did I mention she can beatbox & hum at the same time?
Her band is also really great, and they take her very personal songs from that area of preciousness that make people uncomfortable, and turn them into compelling, hooky, clap-along-able tunes that seem to end way too soon. And Thao was a totally charming front-person that night, telling stories about funny stuff that happens to her band members, and wondering out loud whether she's as good a dresser as Cat Power (who she'd shared an appearance on WNYC with earlier that day):
Thao's new album, We Brave Bee Stings and All, is flat out excellent. buy
Get six songs from Thao's 2006 stop at Daytrotter here.
Watch Thao's sweet "Rock & Roll (Pt 2)"/"Geography" combo live on the San Francisco waterfront:
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