Editor’s Note: My review of the Priscilla Ahn show will probably be appearing in Interlude Magazine.

The show marked the day of Priscilla Ahn’s Blue Note record debut, A Good Day. Priscilla’s band consisted of two players on strings (cello, violin), upright bass/ electric bass, electric guitar, Joey Waronker on percussion, keyboards/piano/samples, and Priscilla on harmonica/ acoustic guitar/ ukulele/ kazoo. It was a feat just fitting all of her band onto the stage.

Priscilla took the stage playing “Wallflower” which set the tone her persona. She’s not overtly confident like most singers but she does exude a sweetness and endearing quality much like her music. After the first song, she jokingly warned that she was going to be playing the entire record and for people to get comfortable.

For songs like “Dream” and “Masters In China”, she applied a loop pedal to layer her vocals which coated the songs in syrupy lethargy. On “Red Cape”, Priscilla channeled The Cranberries’ Dolores O’Riordan with how she stretched her vocals and tempo. “Lullaby” showcased a beautiful string arrangement and demonstrated Ahn’s harmonizing style.

The thing that struck me the most about the show was Priscilla’s pitch and clarity in her vocals. her songs to be fatiguing at times if there aren’t enough songs to mix it up. But, the crowd requested “Boob Song” injected a little energy and amusement into her set. It was hard not to laugh at her Kazoo skills.

During Ahn’s set, it was apparent, which songs were written earlier in her career versus the newer songs because her older songs sounded more experimental and broke the mold of sleepy guitar songs. I give credit to the band members on cello/ violin and Joey Waronker’s contribution to the songs by making them more complex in arrangement and added an elegance to her otherwise gentle set.

Set List (not in the right order):

Wallflower
I Don’t Think So
Find My Way Back Home (Priscilla solo on ukulele)
Lullaby
Astronaut
Leave The Light On
Red Cape
Masters In China (cover)
A Good Day
Opportunity to Cry (Willie Nelson cover)
Dream

Encore:
Boob Song (Priscilla on kazoo)