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
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