Toronto – Nicole Atkins certainly has quite the voice. That was the main thing going through my mind as I watched the New Jersey singer perform with her band, The Black Sea. Only being somewhat aware of her previous output and having not yet heard her recently released Mondo Amore album, I had nonetheless heard a lot of good buzz about her live show and Nicole Atkins certainly made an impression.
She impressed not only with her voice but with her songs. Highlights were “Maybe Tonight,” “Oh Canada!” (not the National Anthem) and “Cry Cry Cry,” the latter being a song she co-wrote with Robert Harrison of Austin power poppers Cotton Mather. She also played a cover of a Cotton Mather song, which I enjoyed as they’re a band that doesn’t seem to get that much recognition. While were on the subject of cotton, the opening band was Cotton Jones. Coincidence? I think not. It’s the cotton conspiracy, folks, and Nicole Atkins is right at the centre of it all! Oh sure, she’ll try to lull you into a sense of security by complimenting the audience and saying it was “like playing to a sea of muppets.” She’ll charm you with her story of getting a guitar signed by Ray Davies of The Kinks “… and the guy who was standing next to him” because she didn’t want that guy (who I assume was Davies’ guitarist or something) to feel left out. But don’t be fooled. She’s … OK, I’m going nowhere with this “cotton conspiracy” angle, I made it all up. Carry on, folks.
Here’s the setlist for the night: