I have been way too busy and not been posting as much, but have to take the time to post about Annie Clark, aka St. Vincent. A combination of David Bowie and David Byrne - a brilliant/weird performer, songwriter, guitarist and, speaking as a straight guy, really beautiful.
She was just on Saturday Night Live - I was assuming someone would post about that because she was so wonderful.
Here is a link to her two songs - the second one, Birth in Reverse, showcases her catchy songwriting, precise guitar playing, and wonderfully weird stage show.
I’m a fan. Saw her on her first 2 tours (though the second one was done without a band, just pre-recorded backing tracks, so it wasn’t as good as her with a full band). Still, a great guitarist, and her new album will definitely be in my year-end top 10.
I was just roaming and found this video of a live performance of Rattlesnake: - YouTube
Damn, she’s just better than us. Fucking brilliant guitar work at the end, wrapped up in the package of a supermodel. She’s like the Cristiano Ronaldo of girl guitar players…
I was introduced to her by my brother sending me a link a few months ago, and have been fascinated and a little confused by her ever since.
I loved the performance on SNL, I’m not sure why I didn’t open a thread on it. Her performance on Jools Holland was just as great, even if it was the same two songs both times (hey, gotta push the single). She’s an inventive guitarist with her own ear for melody and rhythm, and always plays cool guitars to boot. (Watching the video of rattlesnake) damn…she…makes fingertapping…sound good…different from anyone else…then devolves into noise. Damn. She just rocks.
If she looked like Burl Ives and was from Idaho, I’d be enamored of her just because of the music. Since she’s very pretty and from just across town in Dallas, I can’t explain why I hadn’t developed a completely unhealthy stalking career.
What confuses me? The dancing. I like it, but to say I get it would be complete lie.
Personally, I’d put her as someone with potential. At least in her current show, she seems to be trying to channel Key: the Metal Idol, a girl who thinks she’s actually a robot with all the expressiveness of a wooden puppet, trying to become a pop idol. They even have the same hair. But, I think we have to wait until she’s a real girl, before we’ll get any music with soul.
I loved her album with David Byrne (Love This Giant) and I was impressed when I saw her on that tour. She didn’t play a lot of guitar during that show, but she played enough to convince me she was really good. It’s very cool to see her get something of a star moment with her new album, and it’s a lot of fun. I especially like Digital Witness and Huey Newton.
I saw her at a festival in Jersey City (actually Liberty State Park) in 2009. It was officially called “All Points West,” but I dubbed it “All Points Mud” because of the crazy amount of rain that fell that weekend. By Sunday, most of the concert watching areas were ankle deep in mud.
St. Vincent didn’t do much for me. Seemed a typical chick with a guitar act, except she turned the quirk up to 11. I honestly don’t remember too much of her set, just didn’t resonate with me for whatever reason.
Everything she does is pretty awesome, but I’m not sure why her latest album is getting so much praise when I think it may be her weakest album. Maybe it’s just a result of increased exposure.
I saw that she was on SNL and she caught my eye. She also got a little bit of my ear. But I’ve historically found the performances on SNL to be weak (is it the set, the production, the drinking?), so i really didn’t give it a fair shake. Some of the links you guys have provided have opened my aural canal a bit, but i’m still luke warm. I think there’s something there, yet I’m still tempted to say;
But i’ll keep listening. I kinda feel like Mr. Picker, and I’d listen deeper if she wasn’t as (sorta) good-looking.
Well said. Completely different from Carrie Brownstein and, say, Susan Tedeschi or fucking Orianthi (random guitar player who was supposed to be in Michael Jackson’s band and does nothing to impress me).
St. Vincent is not a “girl guitar player” - even though I used that in the OP - she is a great guitar player, period. Her quirk can fog things up, but strip that away, and her technique is awesome and fun to watch.