Music Review: Newcomer Sahara Smith is More of What Music Today Needs

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CHICAGO – We dig discovering sprouting artists at the phase where they’re just talented enough to keep their humility. That’s where we found 21-year-old singer, songwriter and guitarist Sahara Smith on Friday night at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall. Her voice has been described as “a potent mix of whiskey and molasses” and the “best of what’s next”.

HollywoodChicago.com Music Rating: 3.0/5.0
Music Rating: 3.0/5.0

A Texas-based performer since the age of 13, Smith’s new career has been shepherded by T Bone Burnett and produced by Emile Kelman (Burnett’s longtime studio veteran). Burnett earned recent acclaim for writing the lyrics to “The Weary Kind,” which was the theme to the new film “Crazy Heart” where Jeff Bridges won a 2010 Oscar for his leading role.

21-year-old newcomer Sahara Smith
21-year-old newcomer Sahara Smith.
Image credit: Jon Pattillo

Smith’s current tour, which is aimed at helping to sell her album due out in Aug. 2010, is piggybacked with Mason Jennings and Nathaniel Rateliff. She took the stage in Chicago for two days on Friday and Saturday nights.

Sahara Smith at Chicago's Lincoln Hall on June 25, 2010
Sahara Smith at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall on June 25, 2010.
Photo credit: Adam Fendelman/HollywoodChicago.com

HollywoodChicago.com was there on Friday at Lincoln Hall where she neither brought down the house nor did she alienate it.

She left us wondering what’s next. With a voice that reminds us of Neko Case and a minimalist stage set up for her lonely duo, Smith’s 30-minute show is best described as thought-provokingly downbeat.

While being humble and modest, she packs surprising pipes. Still, Smith is currently only a talented singer, songwriter and guitarist.

She’s not currently an entertainer. Smith is going to need to learn to vastly improve her stage presence very quickly. In the music business, singing and entertaining need to go hand in hand. A video of Smith performing at the Granada Theater can be watched below.


As her career continues, Smith should learn how to better engage her crowd – as she didn’t in Chicago – and diversify her rather monotonous song selections between downbeat and upbeat. As this crowd fed off her downbeat energy, you were literally afraid to talk in the relatively depressing environment and hoped no one was falling asleep.

21-year-old newcomer Sahara Smith performed at Chicago's Lincoln Hall on June 25, 2010
21-year-old newcomer Sahara Smith performed at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall on June 25, 2010.
Image credit: Adam Fendelman/HollywoodChicago.com

One number did bring the room’s energy up momentarily, but song development and crowd engagement should be Smith’s primary focus now. Smith currently has a voice that’s worth hearing. At some point, she might also have a stage show that’s worth seeing.

Sahara Smith’s new album “Myth of the Heart,” which is due out in Aug. 2010, features many of T Bone Burnett’s first-call session players including drummer Jay Bellerose, guitarist Marc Ribot and bassist Dennis Crouch. Smith’s band includes Jake Owen (guitar), Will Sexton (guitar/bass) and Mike Meadows (drums/percussion).

HollywoodChicago.com editor-in-chief and publisher Adam Fendelman

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief/Publisher
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

© 2010 Adam Fendelman, HollywoodChicago.com LLC

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