I have been neglecting my blog lately and it has been eating at me for about 2 weeks so today I thought if I am doing this then I better do it. And there is nowhere I would rather blog than at Swamp Water Bluz. It just so happens that tonight there are two artists in the house that I have wanted to blog starting with Sassy Nitely, followed by an SL veteran, Paul Nowles.
Sassy Nitely is a musician from Nashville, TN whose charisma, musical prowess and showmanship has captivated the hearts of SL music lovers since 2008.
Not only is Sassy an award winning musician in-world, she also performs around the middle Tennessee area with her party duo band, New Binge. Sassy’s band “My July” had a remarkable era prior to New Binge; however, in November 2020 the band could no longer endure the hardships venues faced during the pandemic. New Binge was created out of an unfortunate situation but is a highlight of Sassy’s music career.
Sassy never disappoints her audience and delivers a polished; unforgettable performance filled with witty banter, refreshing acoustic covers, and soulful original music.
She began her set with a hello to all those she had not had a chance to greet yet, and the house was filling up nicely. She then got down to business with a great rendition of KT Tunstall's "Big Black Horse And The Cherry Tree". I was impressed immediately. Sassy sings with confidence, a very good range, lots of power and with a smooth, clear sound. Her dynamics and intonation is gorgeous and I could feel how comfortable she is in her delivery. An absolutely Top Notch singer and player!
"Dancin' In The Dark" by Springsteen snuck up on me as she started it nice and slow, letting a long crescendo ease us into this classic, giving us enough of the original, while managing to create a brand new experience for us with the very natural little changes in phrasing and tempo that she makes to own it,
She keeps the melody familiar yet the slowness and her interpretation came across as all her own, creating a brand new, beautiful rendition.
The set then worked its way through Bad Things, (done well ;)), letting that one build using the lyrics as guidance. She slowly wrapped us in the song until we were totally engulfed. I enjoyed this one very much!
George Michael's "Careless Whisper" saw her relaxed and picking up the tempo a bit. All the music I heard today gave us the same feelings we had when we first heard each tune, yet she gives you a whole new slant on the music that keeps it all fresh and leaves you wanting more.
Sassy Nitely is one of the best singers I have witnessed in SL to date and as we listened to "Ain't No Sunshine" (Bill Withers) she belted it out and let it ride, using her presentation and delivery, dynamics and tempo again to make it cycle like a breathing, living entity, skillfully varying power and softness till you are totally captivated.
Chris Isaak's Wicked Game was beautifully presented and the rhythm she created made it impossible to sit or stand still.... and she can hold a note until I was the one gasping for breath! Amazing!
Through Aaliyah's "Are You That Somebody?" and "Insensitive" by Jann Arden (one of my fav Canadian artists) continuing through Adele's "Rolling in the Deep," she nailed 'em!
When she gave us "Make You Feel My Love" originally presented by Adele and Bob Dylan, the sweet purity of those lyrics and the way she can let you feel her love through by opening herself and giving the emotion to us with her voice, I thought immediately of Roxie and how we are together, and I felt a shiver, goosebumps and smile wash over and through me.
When she finished with another fav of mine: Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah", I was one proud Canuck and a brand new Sassy Fan
... Awesome Set ... !Wow! ... Let me say that backwards: !woW!
THANK YOU SASSY NITELY AND A HUGE THANK YOU TO SWAMP WATER BLUZ!
