Kathleen Edwards: The Birchmere, Alexandria, Virginia - 4/14/07

When we heard that Kathleen Edwards sounds like Lucinda Williams fronting Crazy Horse awhile ago, we just knew that we had to check her out. And we've been to several of her shows over the years and thoroughly enjoyed them.

We saw Kathleen Edwards this week at the Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia and she gave another fine -- yet totally goofy -- performance. This was our third time seeing Edwards and we've watched as she gets more comfortable in front of audiences, she seems to reveal more and more of her endearing and charming side, all the while rocking out and belting out the ballads.

At one point, Edwards was rocking out so hard that her guitar became unplugged and she just kept going not even realizing it until her husband Colin Cripps, on rhythm guitar, plugged it back in. At another point, mid-song she abruptly announces she has to "take a pee", leaps off the stage and heads for the exit. As the band soloed on, she returns without as much missing a beat. Later in the set, while playing the harmonica she explains that her "mouth isn't working right" and hurls her harmonica rack to the floor. All in good fun with the audience cheering on each misfire.

The setlist included songs from "Failer", "Back to Me" and the new "Asking for Flowers". Tunes included "In State," "12 Bellevue," "Oil Man's War," "Good Things," "Summerlong".



At one point the band left the stage and Edwards soloed on "Alicia Ross". A haunting song about Alicia Ross, a young woman from Edwards' native Ontario who went missing in 2005. It was later discovered that Ross was murdered by her next-door neighbor. Riveting stuff.

Then there was the funny "I Make the Dough, You Get the Glory" which references the disgraced hockey player Marty McSorley. Edwards went onto explain the music video she intends to make of the song which -- we won't go into here -- but sounds like it'll be a real hoot.

Quite a show. No Neil covers like the last time we saw her where she covered "Unknown Legend" but still a good night out. Check her out when she's in your town.



And we've always found Back To Me to be a great song.



You can check out MP3 samples of the new album Asking for Flowers.