Date: Fri 02-Jan-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

St.-Ann-Clancy-Tuxedo-Junction

Full Text:

(rev Lisa St. Ann & Fabulous Band @Tuxedo Junction)

NOTE: THIS IS CORRECT DATE ARTICLE RAN/DISREGARD FILE WITH 1997 DATE

A Curiosity Only To Those Who Haven't Yet Heard Her

(with cut)

BY SHANNON HICKS

DANBURY -- When Lisa St. Ann took the stage Sunday night at Tuxedo Junction,

not many in the audience knew what to expect.

A singer-songwriter, St. Ann and her band were in Danbury to perform a set

prior to a show by the musician Jeffrey Gaines. St. Ann, who has two

independently-released albums under her belt, even joked from the stage, "It's

OK, you don't have to pretend you know who we are," about midway through her

set, when applause came at a smattering rate.

As St. Ann and her Fabulous Band continued performing, however, a

transformation began taking place, on both sides of the microphone.

Those who already knew about this fabulous singer-songwriter (and guitariSt.

and keyboardist) reveled in the performances of "If I Had It All," "Two

Runaways and A Rosary" and "Merry-Go-Round," among the dozen or so played.

From the floor, the applause was sincere and appreciative; the appreciation

around the room grew as the show continued.

On the stage, St. Ann and her band -- drummer and backing vocaliSt. John

Clancy, bassiSt. Paul Crowley, and guitariSt. Scott Fletcher -- began gaining

more speed and momentum than they started with, cranking out solidly-performed

songs with the tightness of any big name, old-age rock band whose members keep

playing because they don't know how to do anything else. St. Ann is hardly an

old age rocker, but she and her band sure know what they are doing.

The show was supporting the singer's second album, entitled Curiously Strong

(curious about the title? check out the lid on an Altoids Mints box...). While

her firSt. album featured songs written by St. Ann and/or her producer/writing

partner Andre Karkos, the new one also includes material co-penned by bandmate

Clancy.

St. Ann has been embraced by non-commercial AAA radio across the country; her

single "You're Sleeping" was selected by Acoustic Cafe as one of 1996's best.

She hates comparison ("Why does everyone always have to be compared to someone

else?" she said after the show), but admits it does help an audience

unfamiliar with an artiSt. to have some familiarity when juSt. learning about

a new performer.

That said, St. Ann has the look of Alanis and a bit of Crow, a little of the

sound of Tori and even Apple, the experience (at leaSt. from the sounds of her

writing) of Mitchell and Carole King, and a panache all her own. Her

songwriting is curiously catchy, without being preachy. Her talent comes on

strong, without being overbearing. She is an excellent find, and audiences who

have heard her to date have all counted themselves lucky to have found such a

gem.

The December 28 concert was the second Danbury appearance by St. Ann and her

band in less than a month. The group has managed to become favorites of

Borders Books store managers across the country. Because of this, the band has

played over 50 Borders stores in the paSt. six months, sometimes putting in a

Borders appearance the same morning or afternoon of a club concert.

St. Ann and her band had played at the new Borders store in Danbury on

December 13. It was a good showcase for the singer and her band, but toned

down from the full concerts -- plugged-in guitars, a full drum set for Clancy,

etc -- the band obviously enjoys more. On Sunday night, St. Ann got to belt

out her lyrics (while also playing songs on either her guitar or keyboard)

without worrying about being too loud for even the moSt. progressive book

store chain in the world, the amps were all on for the band, and Clancy was

performing on a full drum set with the enthusiasm of a toddler firSt.

discovering wooden spoons and tin pans.

What would have made the show a total smash would have been if the sound man

had kept his eye on the stage, instead of the Rangers game on the big screen

beside the stage the club didn't bother to turn off during the band's

performance. Said sound man did not capture Fletcher's guitar solo near the

end of the set, which was a shame.

Nevertheless, by the time Lisa St. Ann finished her performance, a few more

albums had been sold, a couple more names had been added to the band's mailing

list. And the entertainer had earned the richeSt. award in the business: a few

new fans.