I like to think of Anni Rossi as the best kept secret in indie folk pop rock music (or whatever genre she and her viola fit into). While the world is abuzz with rightful praise for tUnE-yArDs, Rossi, a similarly innovative musician, is often overlooked. You know those people who are put off by Merrill Garbus’ shrieks and squawks? Slip them Rossi’s latest, Heavy Meadow.
Rossi took the stage at Pianos on Wednesday night with more confidence than the last time I saw her tour. Ditching her coffee-cans-in-a-suitcase percussion apparatus for a real live drummer and bassist, Rossi focused on sideways pizzicato for the majority of her new songs, only breaking out the bow in the latter half of her set. Rossi’s new material has a poppier side than her older stuff, partially due to its emphasis on more guitar-like plucked notes, and the show on the whole had a light and bouncy feel. Blasphemous though it may seem, sometimes I forget to marvel at the multi-talented woman on stage because I was too busy dancing.
Rossi’s voice is as delightful as ever, and when she sings with a smile she’s charming enough to light up a room. Although the room at Pianos seemed a little hesitant to engage and move their feet, it was clear from the applause and shouts that the crowd was fully in her corner. It was an easygoing night, and the close confines made it seem even more like a well-kept secret.
The set highlights ranged from new songs like “Land Majestic,” a jangling tune that shows off Rossi’s whimsical voice to old stand-bys like “Machine,” which has been circulating under various names – it was previously “Arctic Swing” – for years. “Hatchet,” with its ebbing and flowing tempos was another favorite.
If you haven’t seen Anni Rossi play, I would highly recommend you find out when she’s playing your town next. She hasn’t hit it big quite yet, still waiting for her chance to join the conversation about prominent indie women, but she is a fascinating performer to watch on stage. Her live show still outpaces her recorded work, but that gap is quickly closing, and I’m afraid she won’t be under the radar for too long. Go see her in concert so you can say you got there first.
