I’m very lucky to have some just-as-obsessed-as-I-am music fans in my life.  When two of them who don’t know each other start talking about a band, I tend to listen.  So about three weeks ago when my friend Dru, who was one of the founders of Alternative Addiction, and my bestie/roomie/partner-in-crime and radio goddess Shelia both mentioned that they were loving the new Dead Sara record within days of each other…I had to check it out.

Dead Sara came to town last night and played The Fillmore opening for The Used … and all I can say is WHOA.

Let me repeat:  WHOA.

I tend not to be a fan of female vocalists in general, but I had the same instant reaction to lead singer Emily Armstrong’s voice that I did when I first heard Grace Potter.  Smoky, gritty, and holy POWERHOUSE Batman. There is no denying that this is a voice that needs – demands – to be heard.  And man, is there anything better than seeing a singer on stage that is obviously feeling every word and note that he or she is singing? This is not soul music, but it was one of the most soulful performances I have seen in a long time. The band was on, and just as into it as she was, and the show crescendoed into a finale banshee-wail song, complete with buzzing, over-amped guitars and a kicked over drum set.  It was a singularly fantastic rock n’ roll show.  Period.

If they come to your town, you MUST go see them.  But don’t take my word for it…let the video below speak for itself.

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