Kimya Dawson, Bush Hall, London

4.00

 

Kimya Dawson is sporting an enormous pink and blue afro. It's as if candyfloss met a cartoon rain-cloud sign for depression over her head. Which is pretty apt: to the strumming and fingerpicking of her acoustic guitar, she sings in that funny little voice about friendship and silver pink ponies, but also people dying of cancer, her own mental health, and struggles with addiction.

What might have seemed like indie-movie quirk on the Juno soundtrack is actually as honest as it comes.

Now nearly 40, Dawson was once poster girl for New York lo-fi anti-folk, as half of The Moldy Peaches with Adam Green. Tonight, she's joined by Pablo Das who, ahem, turns Buddhist chants into indie-folk ditties. It does get a touch group therapy - “know that you're perfect as you are” - they have us singing by the end before a giant spiral group hug. But Dawson deserves such love-ins.

Sure, she wears her heart on her sleeve, but it's laced with wit, not pretension or sentimentality. Dawson offers hymns on being true to yourself, and not judging people, whether they're suits'n'ties or tie-dyed in the wool hippies: “Some people like business, some people like numbers/ Some people grow organic heirloom cucumbers.” She sings about not trying to be cool; the slightly-too-dweeby-to-be-hipster crowd swoons.

It is cheering, and dryly funny, just like her understated wavery delivery, which still manages to fit in more words per bar or breathe than you'd think possible (see "The Beer" for a masterclass). She also frequently fluffs it - as on Juno-famed "Tire Swing", her closest thing to a pop hit, which has all the girls unconsciously swaying. But although Dawson's forever interrupting herself to laugh or joke or tell us a bit more back story – every song's got a back story! - such gentle shambling doesn’t irk.

Also, much of the set is just plain silly: she did an album of children's songs, and we get the rude "Alphabutt", as well as "The Mare and the Bear" on which she shares writing credits with her kid. There's even a mildly cringe-worthy rap. But then, the thing with Dawson is that there's no such thing as cringey: if she feels it, she does it. Everyone has their own limit with this (an 11-minute ode to dead friends tested mine), but there are also moments when it feels Dawson speaks not just from her heart, but from yours too.

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
News in pictures
World news in pictures
Arts & Ents blogs

The Fall ‘Darkness Visible’ – Series 1, episode 2

There is a good many moments in the second episode of this psychological thriller that deserve refle...

‘Vicious’ – Series 1, episode 4

The opening titles squeal ‘Never Can Say Goodbye…’. Oh Lord how I wish I could heave this series off...

Game of Thrones ‘Second Sons’ – Season 3, episode 8

Even though there was a complete absence of our favourite odd couple Brienne and Jaime, we got anoth...

       

ES Rentals

    Watch out Watford: Here comes the secretive Bilderberg Group

    Watch out Watford: Here comes the secretive Bilderberg Group

    A meeting of global power brokers in a Hertfordshire hotel is exciting conspiracy theorists, but what are they really about?
    'The ultimate all-in-one home entertainment system': Microsoft finally unveils its Xbox ONE console

    'The ultimate all-in-one home entertainment system'

    Microsoft finally unveils its Xbox ONE console
    Plenty of Fish dating site founder pulls 'Intimate Encounters' option to ward off sleazy men

    Plenty of sleaze

    Dating website pulls intimate 'hook-up' section to curb harassment
    Inferno author Dan Brown 'honoured' to be invited to join the Freemasons

    The Freemasons’ Code

    Dan Brown reveals the message that told him door to the lodge is open
    Not secure any more: G4S boss heads for exit at last

    Not secure any more: G4S boss heads for exit at last

    Nick Buckles survived the Olympics débâcle and a £5bn bid fiasco but a profit warning finally triggered his downfall
    How to say ‘I’m a sellout’: Tumblr’s David Karp’s message of reassurance to his staff sounded very familiar

    How to say ‘I’m a sellout’

    Tumblr’s David Karp’s message of reassurance to his staff sounded very familiar
    Why clubs are keen to take a stand

    Why clubs are keen to take a stand

    There's a real desire around the grounds for safe standing. But will the authorities listen?
    In the end the fans decided Tony Pulis had made a pig's ear of the job at Stoke City

    In the end the fans decided Tony Pulis had made a pig's ear of the job at Stoke City

    Disillusion with a siege mentality and negative playing style made change inevitable
    James Lawton: The James Hunt I knew is the subject of a new F1 movie

    James Lawton: The James Hunt I knew is the subject of a new F1 movie

    British driver was fascinating man whose epic duel with Niki Lauda in 1976 was typical of an era of glamour and glory – but also the ever-present threat of death
    Stuart Hogg: Ready to climb his own Everest

    Stuart Hogg: Ready to climb his own Everest

    Lions' cub, 20, joins long line of players from Scottish borders club Hawick given opportunity to make his mark at highest level
    Carl Froch handed rare chance of revenge with dream rematch

    Steve Bunce on Boxing

    Carl Froch handed rare chance of revenge with dream rematch against Mikel Kessler
    'There is a battle going on inside us that is never discussed'

    Masculinity in crisis?

    'There is a battle going on inside us that is never discussed'
    Have US shock jocks gone too far?

    Have US shock jocks gone too far?

    An incendiary remark from Rush Limbaugh may be the beginning of the end for outspoken right-wing US broadcasters
    The ‘Beverly Hills’ of Surrey pays more income tax than big cities of the North

    The ‘Beverly Hills’ of Surrey

    Elmbridge pays more income tax than big cities of the North
    Heavenly Bodies

    Heavenly Bodies

    Michael Landy's artistic marriage made in heaven... and hell