Joan as Police Woman @ Bowery Ballroom

Joan as Police Woman; The Perces; Violets
@ Bowery Ballroom
New York, NY - September 25, 2008

Joan Wasser, sporting an 8-piece band and a Foxy Brown/Coffy-esque afro, played her deluxe cavalcade of Indie folk, pop, soul, and R&B, with the gritty wit and talented finesse that she is naturally embued with. Intersplicing her various pieces with affable interaction with the audience, Joan proved to be the sweet natured chanteuse as much as she proved to be the imposing artiste. "To Be Loved", "Eternal Flame", and a sexed-up, smokey cover of Jimi's "Fire", were the big highlights but there wasn't a let-down in the set. Joan's voice is so naturally sexy and authentic, it could carry the show on its own but her well-crafted torch songs and bluesy requiems are more-than-boosted by an outfit of talented musicians. This is one of those total package type deals. Not too shabby.

The Perces are an ode to Edith Piaf and Nancy Sinatra gone down Alabama way. Looking like they had boots made for walking, the sisters and their five-piece band ran the gamut from soul to rockabilly, all in a vein of cabaret and go-go. This type of music is ripe for lighthearted tomfoolery ala the Ditty Bops, but there was a vague sense of gothic darkness underneath the whole affair. The disco song at the end though was kind of out of left field. But that was nothing compared to the fact that their bass player was none other than the Mooney Suzuki's Sammy James Jr! What the heck was he doing there?!

Violets, not to be confused with the Violets of a few years ago, seemed to be playing their first ever show, which gave them an edge of nervousness but also of legitimate excitement. That being said, having yet another 80's-influenced dance-club band isn't exactly invigorating at this time. The lead singer, wearing the kind of jacket that was supposed to be the 2008 look as seen in 1983, was legitimately happy but also kind of dorky and he was more dorky than sexy which is what he was aiming to be. Some of the songs showed a lot of promise so let' s not be completely down on these guys.