The Jarvis Lounge

  
On July 6, I caught a show by Irish singer/songwriter Bridie Monds-Watson, better known as SOAK. The Echo up in Silver Lake was the perfect venue for her intimate set. I’ll admit, I was scared when she walked out with just a guitar, and no backing band. Most stripped acts that I’ve seen have failed to live up to their full-band counterparts (with some exceptions – Dave Matthews comes to mind). And then she started. I’d listened to her new album, “Before We Forgot How To Dream,” and loved the atmosphere she could create with her songs and voice. Her guitar playing accentuated her voice, and she sounded like a pro up there. And she’s only 19! She went through most of the cuts from her new album, including favorites “B a noBody” and “Sea Creatures,” (one of NPR’s Best Songs (So Far) of 2015). She also dished a cover of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” Equally impressive was her ability to chat with the audience. Performers often lack this skill, as they awkwardly dance through their setlist. She had no problem – and did I mention she’s only 19! At one point, she told the story of how she performed on the main stage at Glastonbury earlier this year, and alluded to wanting to play Coachella in the near future. That would be a gift to the mega-music festival. Here are some pics, and the video for “B a noBody.”