1.8.2011

Jen Hirsh, an impeccably-voiced singer/songwriter whose debut album, Myself In Two, is due early this year, delivered an amiable set last Saturday night at The Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles.

The tiny venue - all exposed brick, black velvet curtains, and candlelit tables - provides a cozy stage for up-and-coming singer/songwriters to reach engaged, sympathetic audiences. The scale is small, and the crowd populated about equally with performers' fans, friends, and fellow musicians waiting to take the stage. The vibe so mellow and encouraging throughout that the evening resembled a summer camp open mic nite as much as a rock n' roll show, in the best possible way.

Following a set of bright tunes from Tim Blane - joined by Hirsh for several harmony-rich numbers to close it out - Hirsh hustled to lug her own small keyboards through the crowd and onto the stage. As she and her backing musicians set up, she exuded a goofy charm, all good nature and grins, clearly rather thrilled to be there.

Her buoyant mood lasted throughout her 45 minute-ish set of pleasant, melodic, mid-tempo soft rock - think Chantal Kreviazuk circa "Surrounded" meets Norah Jones circa Home, and you'll have a pretty good idea of her core sound. Her look - a cascade of long, wavy dark hair - also recalls such chanteuses. In fact, I thought so much of the very-imitable Ms. Jones during the show that I couldn't help but wonder how Hirsh felt about her. Does she look up to her, and play her records over and over again until the grooves wear out, as her sound suggests? Or is she annoyed by Jones and her success and the inevitable comparisons that result from working in a vein so similar to such a massive mainstream phenomenon (who also happens to have an all-timer of a voice)? I have to imagine it gets pretty tiresome, and I feel kinda bad, after experiencing the show in such a warm and loving atmosphere, that I'm even taking the space, here in this sparsely-read blog, to bring it up. But the parallels really can't be denied.

Hirsh's songs, co-written with guitarist Adam Tressler, are tight, poppy numbers with good choruses. Some ambled, some drifted, and a few even rocked a little: they sound ready to fit right in alongside the aforementioned Jones and Kreviazuk - or perhaps Sara Bareilles or Vanessa Carlton or Michelle Branch. The dramatic "Scissors & Soap" stood out mid-set, and the closer, "The Big Picture," changed things up a bit with its delightful bounce, reminiscent of Regina Spektor's "Fidelity." (note: the YouTube links, should you check them out, feature more stripped-down performances of the songs in question; at The Hotel Cafe, she was backed by a full band that included keyboards, an upright piano, a full drum kit, and guitars and bass)

Her voice has real range and precision - even as it audibly tired towards the end, she retained incredible control, displayed a gift for smooth phrasing, stayed perfectly on pitch, and delivered some impressive high notes. I kept thinking, "If this was an American Idol audition, Randy'd be going on about how 'This girl is ready for the studio RIGHT NOW, DOG!'"

And so it turns out that Hirsh actually did audition for AI Season 9, which jazzy performance earned her a golden ticket. Though she evidently didn't make the final 12, the AI metaphor is useful for the purposes of this review. Because Hirsh sings like a pro, no doubt due to her natural gifts, her training at the Berklee College Of Music, and her work as a back-up singer. She and Tressler also write pleasing songs. But she doesn't quite stand out from the pack. "Who is Jen Hirsh as an artist?" I couldn't help but imagine Kara asking, following yet another solid-but-slightly-unremarkable performance. Hirsh's vocals are impressive - but if I closed my eyes while I was listening, I don't think I could tell her voice apart from any of the other singer/songwriters mentioned above.

At this early moment in her career, before she's even released her first album, wearing her influences on her sleeve isn't necessarily a bad thing - indeed, it's practically to be expected. Rare is the artist who emerges fully-formed. So here's hoping that Jen Hirsh finds success with Myself In Two, and gets the chance to continue honing her craft.

Two-and-a-half stars (w/ a bonus five-star rating for The Hotel Cafe as a venue