Holy Smoke: Gin Wigmore and the Cardinals

It's always a strange gig when you can spot two industry insiders for every music enthusiast (if that!). Despite the rather calculated viewing crowd at an early private show on Mercury Lounge's small stage, kiwi-native Gin Wigmore and the Cardinals (borrowed from Ryan Adams) fed off their own energy during the 40-minute set.

Decked out in a lacy black bra -- to best show her tattoos -- and a leather miniskirt, Gin soulfully sang several cuts from her new album Holy Smoke. There was the anti-love song and first single "Too Late For Lovers" and the slow-burning "Golden Ship." Cliched though it may sound, she has the smoky/jazzy voice that fulfills the unspoken promise of the album's title. Most of us mortals would have to smoke a pack a day for several years to acquire such a voice -- and still fall short of the mark.

The Cardinals lived up to their illustrious provenance and filled the lounge with guitar solos that made the ears glad. Gin, no slacker herself, picked up the acoustic guitar and a ukulele as accompaniment on several occasions during the evening. To finish off the night right, the audience was treated to a quick clap-along for "Oh My" -- an anthem in the making!

-- OLGA BAS

Previously > Catching Up With Groove Armada