While in New York for a performance with Herbie Hancock at Carnegie
Hall, singer/songwriter Sonya Kitchell previewed material from her
forthcoming album The Storm at the intimate Mercury Lounge.
Several of The Storm’s tracks feature contributions from The
Slip’s Andrew and Brad Barr, the latter of whom has spent much of the
year collaborating with the young singer both in and out of the
studio. Similar to her recent run of shows in Massachusetts this
spring, Kitchell recruited all three members of the Slip as her
backing band for last night’s performance, which found a comfortable
middle ground between her classic sound and the trio’s trademark
avant-rock. Partway through her performance, Kitchell brought out
singer Piers Faccini to reprise his role on The Storm and, at
the end of the night, invited Derek Trucks to the stage for a ‘hippie
jam’ based around her unreleased original, ‘Sugar.’
After the group’s performance, Andrew Barr scooted across town to
perform with Marco Benevento and the Le Poisson Rouge, the new club
located at the site of the former jazz hall the Village Gate. Barr
played on a number of Benevento originals, as well as covers ranging
from My Morning Jacket’s ‘Golden’ to Pink Floyd’s ‘Fearless’ to The
Knife’s ‘Heartbeats.’ The bill also featured Mocean Worker and DJ
Logic’s Project/Object, the latter of whom handed the microphone into
the audience at the end of its set so former Anti-Pop Consortium
member/H*ly Fuck collaborator Beans could freestyle.
The members of The Slip will continue to back Kitchell at her upcoming
solo appearances. The trio will also play a few California shows with
Nathan Moore as Surprise Me Mr. Davis, including stops at Los Angeles’
Spaceland (7/8), Santa Barbara’s SOhO in (7/9), Santa Cruz’s Moe’s Ally (7/11) and San Francisco’s Cafe
Du Nord (7/12). Big Light, which features ALO’s Steve Adams, will
support the group each step along the way.