This solo concert at BluSeed Studio arts center, Saranac Lake New York was recorded by Folk Alley, an online radio station whose mission is to bring folk music to the masses via the Internet.
It showcases the not inconsiderable talent of Annabelle Chvostek who was once a Wailin' Jenny and recently appeared on Bruce Cockburn's last album - Small Source Of Comfort. She is based in Montreal having been raised in a musical family with a mix of Slovak and Celtic genes.
Chvostek is clearly at home in a venue she praises as "awesome". The between song chat emphasises the relaxed mood and captures the audience's enthusiasm. At one point she even asks for requests to help her create a set list.
The show features just her with acoustic guitar, mandolin and violin playing a bunch of her own songs and a couple of well chosen covers: Peter Tosh's Equal Rights and The Velvet Underground's Some Kinda Love.
Her strong voice has a strength and integrity; this is particularly evident on Tosh's great song of human rights and justice which she delivers with an urgency that Steve Earle would be proud of.
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Her own songs are a nice balance of contemporary folk and old-timey. Highlights are the punchy opening track (Devil's Paintbrush Road) originally from her EP Burned My Ass, and two tracks from her 2008 album Resilience - Firewalker and an upbeat crowd pleaser -Wait For It.
There's also a previously unreleased song with themes of love, wind and waves
called Heartland Quay which she wrote in England.
In short, this engaging live show is a great introduction to a fine artist.
Annabelle Chvostek's Website
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