Though the space at 11th Street Bar seemed somewhat claustrophobic,
with tables placed almost directly in front of the band, it was suited
perfectly for Saint Bernadette
to interact with the audience, and, in turn, for the audience to watch
them interact with each other and see that they were enjoying
themselves. Frontwoman Meredith's voice was smooth, raw, and haunting
-- absolutely flawless (despite being 'plagued with a terrible
illness'; it's doubtful that anyone would have realized had she not
mentioned it). Especially on "Pieces," a mellow, subdued, and wistful song. Even the gritty, more rockish songs ("Lay Me Down"; listen on myspace)
seemed to work, especially with the atmosphere of the space
(apparently, they had to turn down the volume, due to the prior week's
performance being too loud); every note resonated and drew the
listeners into a world of vastly different, yet harmonious blend of
pop, sonic rock, and jazz. They closed with "Beat Dialogue,"
their more jazz-influenced song from their debut, In the Ballroom. The experience is completely worth it; while In the Ballroom
is enchanting and eclectic, the band's live performance, along with
Meredith's confident presence, completes the package. In fact, from
what I've heard that evening, I look forward to their upcoming release
(at least according to a few places on the web, it's called I Wanna Tell You Something; keep an eye -- or ear -- out for that). Check the tour dates for when they hit your town.
-Sil-puh C. // countstars.vox.com // saintbernadettemusic.com // myspace.com/saintbernadette
