Photos by Marc Fong // Written by Nikki DeMartini //
Anna Calvi with Sandy’s //
The Independent – San Francisco
November 17th, 2013
Crimson-lipped and humbly fashionable Anna Calvi graced the stage with her band just before 10 p.m. on Sunday as the hauntingly alluring “Suzanne and I” opened the show.
The captivating performance yielded respect from the audience as they quietly watched, letting Calvi shine. Comparable to the likes of pint-sized heavy hitter PJ Harvey, Calvi’s powerful and eclectic vocal range consistently mesmerized, especially during “Eliza” and “Suddenly” on her 2013 LP One Breath.
The only element that came close to outshining Calvi’s singing were her own guitar licks. Intense riffs laced just about every song of the set, and “Sing to Me” delivered an aggressive solo that reaped an appreciative applause from engaged fans. This type of dominant guitar playing from a woman evoked memories from Liz Phair’s 1993 debut Exile in Guyville, which paved the way for female musicians to rock hard in the 21st century.
With her rich range of falsettos and baritones, Calvi’s intricate, bluesy vocals and pop undertones are a unique pairing, striking a soulful cord that will stick to your bones.
Keep up the good work 🙂
Welcome back and thank you for another fantastic show. We love you here in the city and
mucho appreciate all your immense talent.