July 23, 2009 Jen Kearney and the Lost Onion

Jen Kearney and the Lost Onion gave an energetic spirited performance that lifted people out of their seats and dancing in the aisles. Her songs were strongly influenced by Stevie Wonder who came through in every note and cadence, but without Wonders’ ability to reach you emotionally and spiritually. Kearney’s songs were complex, intricate and layered, yet she might as well have been singing “Blah, Blah, Blah,” to gain the same effect. Maybe she and the band could comprehend her lyrics, but not one word was intelligible to me. Her guitarist, rather than compliment her, drowned her out with his exciting and inventive licks as his hands moving effortlessly up and down the neck of his cigar box guitar. I’d go to see her again, but only if she were playing opposite Derrick Trucks who might really make her shine.