Erin Ivey & the Finest Kind
Flamingo Cantina, Friday, March 18There was a painful disconnect between the sweet-voiced Erin Ivey of the recently released LP Broken Gold and the affected stage persona on display at the Flamingo Cantina on Friday night. Kicking off her early set with “I Always Leave Part of My Heart in Chicago,” Ivey deployed a sultry pose to accompany the breathy delivery of a tale of separation and longing. During “Tricks,” she positioned herself in front of the fan blowing downstage, self-consciously creating a vision of windswept sensuality and a painful sense that she’s trying too hard to create a character rather than presenting an authentic self onstage. Ivey, backed by the Finest Kind, a trio of dudes on Hammond, bass, and drums, entreated the audience of about 40 (mostly men) to give their “energerial support” as she stretched herself by rapping on the pep-talky “Go! Go! Go!” The set itself was a diverse and coherent representation of Ivey’s multigenre influences. As the group began to wind down with the soulfully jazzy lullaby “Sorrow No More,” Ivey seemed a bit more natural onstage, hinting that perhaps down the line this local will be a real presence onstage, rather than a young girl playing a role.
This article appears in March 18 • 2011.