After attending Erin Bode's concert at Kirkwood Performing Arts Center this morning, I'm hoping she'll eventually release these four cover tunes she sang today:
- No Moon At All (KPAC's house band of keyboardist, bassist, and drummer accompanied Bode throughout the concert smoothly, but it would have been interesting to hear "No Moon At All" with Spanish guitar backing. I've come to look forward to this rendition at Bode's concerts, as her voice suits it well, and rhythmically, I think it could segue with Swing DeVille's "Only Fools Are Positive.")
- Pick Yourself Up (Who doesn't feel better after hearing this standard's bouncy, encouraging lyrics? I enjoy hearing Bode sing it in her lower register. I last saw her perform this outdoors in 2019, where her band and she had to compete with police car and fire engine sirens for the audience's attention. It was better this time to see a respectful audience at KPAC's indoor venue give her rendition its due.)
- Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars (If you like the feel of Antonio Carlos Jobim's "The Girl From Ipanema," you'll probably like this similar-sounding tune of his, as well. Its subtle, heartfelt elegance is why I've never heard a subpar rendition of it. Just by selecting this tune, a vocalist is already halfway home with an audience.)
- You're Driving Me Crazy (This was a fun, unexpected way for Bode to close today's concert. Not having a sore throat, as she did at last December's concert, allowed her to belt this out, and the song's cold, declarative ending was a satisfying way of conveying, "See? What did I tell you? You're driving me crazy! So there!" I understand why Bode said this song comes to mind when she's in traffic.)
