"I'm from Wyoming", ZZ Ward announces during her opening slot for Gary Clark Jr at Bowery Ballroom, Monday, November 5th. "It's over there somewhere". A witty line that suggest the West Coast blues singer has been doing this for awhile and not just touring. Wyoming is the "Cowboy State", a big strip of land and about a million miles away from downtown New York in the wake of a Hurricane.
But like I said, ZZ has been doing this awhile, her dad is a blues guitarist, and she takes the packed out nightclub completely in stride, chatting carelessly, pushing her album Till The Casket Drops and pushing her voice only when it makes sense. The songs are bruised break up songs, all written for the same guy and all played with an intense smartness back by a very good band.
Wearing a hat and tank top, ZZ is energetic and impressive but not overawed. It is a moderately impressive set, the album is moderately impressive as well. "If I Could Be Her" cuts the recorded version with a sassy swing of the hips and a hard bounce, "Last Love Song" is a very good ballad and "Blue Eyes Blind" a good exit song. The songs have a pleasant modern bluesiness to them, it sounds like it is on the verge of crossover. But everything is bit too late back. I wish her voice was a little better, and I wish her songs were a little better.
She caught your attention and it was a careful, smart, fan making performance but it lacked the spark of the extra special.
Grade: B