The ever gracious Michele from the Kirby Grips sends us this sampler EP of her solo project. Her distinctive voice wasn’t always up-front in the Grips, but here you have it in full splendor, guaranteed to melt your heart or at least your cares away. Backed by a handful of all star local SF musicians, this has an “old time” vaudeville/cabaret feel, folksy a bit with her ukelele and the fine upright bass of The Paddleman, while not feeling at all indulgent or trite like the plethora of local hipsters plundering all things retro, western as of late. Her recent appearance on Wed Night Live had the whole station enamoured. This cd will do it too.

1) folksy western w/ harmonica and banjo sounding thing
2) simple, beautiful, 2 step dance inducing
3) minimal, just her beautiful voice, ukelele and bells/clave, so pretty
4) latin, tropical Mexico flavor
5) oh my, a priceless cover of “why must I be a teenager in love” except she substitutes with “thirtysomething”, sweet