Music, my Other Best Friend

Jen — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:58:21 +0000

You may remember those singer/songwriter house guests I told you about last week… Last night they were playing at Green Note in Camden. (Some night we’ll go back to eat.)

Carrie Elkin and Robby Hecht are sweeping across the UK…

For some reason, I always feel the need to tell you what’s familiar and what’s different about the new music I hear – so here it goes.

Robby’s voice reminds me of James Taylor’s, clear, genuine, and warm. His music is much less mainstream in sound and composition, but does invite you to sing. The lyrics are intriguing and unpredictable. Let’s face it, there’s just not a lot of that going around on the radio these days. I think I need more material to really figure out who Robby is, on the whole. But it’s nice to imagine that when he sings a love song, he might be singing about a girl I know. And I hope she is at home making vegan cupcakes that will take over the world.

Carrie has her own endearing dialect that reminds me of the way Nancy Griffith has her own, but Carrie doesn’t tip toe into song. The quality of her voice is commanding, strong, with abandon – yet, comforting as an old friend. Her songwriting style brings traditional country music to mind, but I just can’t file her there. In my mind, her songwriting style solidifies her independent, folk singer/songwriter status.

Before we headed to Camden, we joined our friend Leona for birthday drinks on the rooftop of this building, Coq D’argent. Posh.

I hope Leona had a great time and a happy extended birthday!

Carrie Elkin – Drew and Jen go to London

Music, my Other Best Friend