Sunday, September 17, 2006

THE VIEW FROM MY SEAT: Zero 7

Webster Hall, New York, 9/16/06

Caught British trip-hop heroes, Zero 7 last night at Webster Hall, in New York's East Village. Playing to a sold-out crowd, their ambient dance tunes tracked just as well with the audience as their more recognizable tunes.

Zero 7: "Crosses"

The closing night on their North American tour in support of their new release, The Garden, their energy reached near ecstatic levels. Sia, the female vocalist featured on all the Zero 7 albums I've ever heard, was there to belt it out with feeling.

The pixiesque Australian vocalist is one part R&B diva, one part bouncy cheerleader. With unexpectedly gleeful goofiness, she bounded around the stage, embracing her inner 10-year-old. With that kind of voice, I totally hadn't expected the little sprite I saw before me. Get a load of exactly what I'm talking about here on this video clip from the show:

Zero 7: Encore

There to help Sia in her 'little dance' was Swedish Indie/Folk singer-songwriter, Jose Gonzales, who opened the show and sat in with Zero 7 on several of their tunes. Unfortunately, due to Webster Hall's bizarrely early curtain time, I didn't arrive in time to catch Gonzales. Who would have thought that when the ticket said "6:30pm," they really meant it??? What kind of club starts a show that early? Outdoor venue yes, but time-honored concert venue? Um...

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