EXPANDING OPERATIONS
The first time I heard Laura Cheadle live was at North Star back in June 2006. She was playing as a solo act in an extended Emergenza battle-of-the-bands evening. I had listened to her on Myspace for a while before, and, one of her more intriguing songs that got me really interested to go hear her live was "Midst Of Your Mystery".
The show was good, and, over the next few years, I would go to hear her play several more times at a variety of Philly venues, some well-known, and one or two not not-so-well-known.
I've always been impressed by her stage presence, and it was at one of these little venues that I saw one of her more memorable shows. She was playing at a cafe in Old City on a warm Spring evening. Laura always engages with the audience between songs, sometimes telling anecdotes about her inspiration for a particular song, how a particular song was created. At this particular show at the cafe, the front door was open, and, as she started to play, people on the street would stop at the door to listen. The stage was situated about ten or twenty feet from the door, and, in between songs, Laura bantered with the people who were standing in the doorway out by the street! ... Very impromptu, very smooth, very entertaining! Ha! :)
One evening quite a while after that North Star show I went to hear her play at the old Grape Street (the new old Grape Street that closed at Shurs Lane), and was surprised to see that she now had a "band" playing with her. It was a family affair. Her father was playing keys and her brother was playing guitar. This was a nice addition. I would also see the family play when she did an excellent show at World Cafe in 2009.
Fast forward to this past Thursday night when I went to hear Laura headline at Milkboy. I was surprised to see that her effort has now expanded to six members, including a bass guitar, another set of keys, and drums. Playing some new work, but also a lot of work from previous years, including that first song I liked, "Midst Of Your Mystery", as well as some excellent covers, her performance was as smooth as ever. And, even with six people in the band, still a family affair!
So, here it is, playing right here on my blog page, the old version of "Midst Of Your Mystery", that I first heard back in 2006! :::
After the show I had a couple minutes to talk with Laura, and, to my great surprise, she told me that she was only 17 when she did the show that night back at North Star!
Laura Cheadle has an upcoming show scheduled at The Legendary Dobbs here in Philly on February 8, and at Pianos in New York on February 18.
To visit Laura on line in the meantime, here is the click ::: Laura Cheadle (CLICK HERE)
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