Nicole Atkins and The Sea
Bitterzoet, Amsterdam
May 2nd, 2008
Nicole Atkins - vocals, guitar
The Sea:
8 months after her breakthrough appearance on the Late Show With David Letterman, Nicole Atkins' ongoing tour in support of Insomnia Cafe's 2007 album of the year 'Neptune City' has brought her before a packed crowd at Amsterdam's small (and seemingly airtight) Bitterzoet.
With her stellar live band, The Sea, crammed alongside her on the club's tiny stage, any doubts about the group's ability to recreate the album's dreamlike, textured sound in a live environment are availed by the opening bars of recent single 'Maybe Tonight'. Of particular note is violinist Gillian Rivers, who's impassioned, virtuosic playing combined with Dan Chen's swirling keyboard flourishes adds an impossibly grandiose sheen to the performance.
Little can be said about Nicole Atkins' voice that we didn't already cover in our glowing album of the year article. In an era of multiple takes, pitch-correction and vocoders, hers remains a raw, visceral talent. Suffice to say, that her stunning vocals, alternately defiant and longing are every bit as disarmingly beautiful in concert as they are on record. Perhaps even more so, further enhanced as they are by her visible committment to each song, wrapped in The Sea's cascading waves of sound.
Over the course of an hour or so, we are treated to each of 'Neptune City's ten tracks, a swirling rendition of 'Carouselle' from the earlier 'Bleeding Diamonds' EP, and the impressive live debut of an as yet unreleased new song. Highlights include a heart-stopping 'The Way It Is' to rival the Letterman performance, a fist-pumping singalong of the album's most raucous track 'Brooklyn's On Fire', and Nicole's vivid descriptions of the sites and sounds of her home state ("Welcome to New Jersey - who farted?").
A surprise cover of The Doors' seminal 'Crystal Ship' makes for a powerful closer, displaying the versatility of both band and vocalist to a thoroughly impressed crowd.
Based on tonight's show, word-of-mouth will ensure Nicole's diverse fanbase continues to grow with each mesmerizing performance.
Nicole Atkins returns to the Netherlands for a show at Melkweg on July 7th. with upcoming festival performances in Sweden, France and England. A US tour follows in August.
Visit www.nicoleatkins.com for details.
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