Ingrid Michaelson is everything you could want in a performer. She's funny, personable, witty, and above all, extremely talented. She surrounds herself with an equally talented group of individuals whose camaraderie is apparent from the moment they take the stage.
Part of that talented group is UK singer/songwriter Greg Holden, who opened the evening with a handful of songs from his new EP Sing for the City. Having recently moved to New York, his love song to the city, “She’s Got Something,” was an audience favorite, as well as a sing-a-long cover of Katrina and the Waves' “Walking on Sunshine.” Holden described how he memorialized his first visit to Austin by getting a new tattoo and by performing on his first news broadcast for KXAN News. Here's hoping he'll return for another visit.
Michaelson’s no-frills and down-to-earth approach to her new found fame is refreshing. Even with a sold-out show, her interactions with the crowd made you feel that she was genuinely glad to have you there. Between songs from each of her full-length albums, Michaelson joked with the crowd and often praised the audience for their attentiveness and respect. She encouraged audience participation in songs like “Mountain and the Sea,” “Everybody,” and “Far Away.” A highlight of the evening, the five-member band plus Greg Holden joined Michaelson at the front of the stage for a ukulele-only version of “You and I.” Michaelson’s only solo songs were two beautifully executed, albeit contrasting, covers: “Can’t Help Falling In Love, “ which she said was for the ladies, and “Creep, “ which she dedicated to the gentleman.
Michaelson preceded her best known song, “The Way I Am,” with tongue-in-cheek renditions of “Ice, Ice Baby” and the theme song from “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” In a fittingly quirky fashion, Michaelson and her band hid behind their instruments before performing an encore. Continuing the sweet, lighthearted tone of the evening, they ended with a love song to Mexican food and an upbeat, joyful version of "Far Away:” a great way to end a fantastically fun show.
