Americana invades Calvin

Appeared in The Daily Collegian on February 1st, 2008.

Born in Virginia and raised in Washington, Neko Case is a singer-songwriter most notorious for a solo career and her vocal contributions to the indie pop sensation, The New Pornographers.

Case is a dying breed in today's country music scene and a hard act to catch live. With a new solo record in the making, she will make only six stops on her winter tour. One of the stops happens to be at Northampton's Calvin Theatre Feb. 2 with opening act, Eric Bachmann.

She may not sell as many records as successors Martina McBride or Faith Hill, but the fiery redhead can blow any Country Music Channel hotshot out of the water with unbreakable vocals sure to send shivers down your spine. While attending college in Vancouver, British Columbia, Case got her start in a few local bands, which ultimately landed her a spot in The New Pornographers.

From then on, she was flooded with music offers, resulting in five charming solo LPs. Her latest work, the 2006 "Fox Confessor Brings the Flood" released on indie label Anti (Tom Waits, Michael Franti), is hands-down her greatest album yet. Case stopped both stiff critics and her dearest fans in their tracks.

Case has a polished folksy and alternative country sound that strays from being overproduced. She manages to remain honest to her home-grown style of music, which serves as her most endearing attribute. Her timeless voice has grabbed the attention of lucrative labels, but Case prefers to take a humble route, working with labels that are generous enough to grant her artistic freedom.

In a nutshell, Neko Case has the plaintive voice of 50s country-star Loretta Lynn, the ability to tell a story like Tori Amos, the despair of Jenny Lewis and the sexiness of Nicole Kidman.

Think of her music as a mix of American bluegrass with a twist of 60s throwback pop. Case comes off very "coalminer's daughter" through her expressive twang and regretful and wishful lyricism. Her style has proven successful whether playing with the powerpop clan, The New Pornographers, or the folksy and punk groups from her Canadian past. Her ability to perform in different styles qualifies her to tackle a multitude of musical projects.

A new album is currently in the works and Case plans on leaking the new material on this current tour with the assistance of a full band. Despite the full band, her voice is the centerpiece at live shows. Calvin Theatre will be an excellent venue to showcase her strong and poignant vocals because of its crisp acoustics and spacious atmosphere.

Opening up for the headliner tomorrow is Eric Bachmann. Once a member of the band Crooked Fingers, Bachmann is a cross between Bruce Springsteen and M. Ward, as well as a a protégé of indie god Conor Oberst. Though Bachmann is an artist on Saddle Creek Records, he does not come from the plains of Nebraska, but from North Carolina. He creates a sedated tone and holds a demeanor to match Sam Beam, the frontman of Iron & Wine. Before releasing his newest album entitled, "To The Races," Bachmann laid down the entire soundtrack for the movie "Ball of Wax." Prior to his solo albums, Bachmann's work can be traced back to folk band, Archers of Loaf, the ladies of Azure Ray and others.

As Case fortifies her talent time after time, her fanbase continues to expand. Despite her growing popularity, she continues to perform mainly in small and intimate music clubs and theatres such as the Calvin. Tickets for tomorrow's show are still being sold and can be purchased online at nbotickets.com.