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Uncorked & Unplugged @ The Canal Room

The Canal Room, where this evening’s event was held, is located in the 1898 building once known as The Rawitzer Building. More recently, the space housed live music venue Shine, but I hadn’t been inside since owner Marcus Linial reopened it as the Canal Room in late 2003 after a 3-month, million-dollar gut renovation.

This night, the Room played host to the Uncorked & Unplugged  concert: “an evening of new wines and new sounds.” Our tickets got us tastings from Moon Mountain Vineyard, Dynamite Vineyards and Solaris Winery, and spots in the audience for the two acoustic sets.

After a couple shots of mediocre wine, we kicked back with bottles of Stella to await the tunes. First up, singer-songwriter MoZella – in Google: “Did you mean: mozilla?” – a Detroit-based singer-songwriter with a sweetly soulful voice, and sound and lyrics suited for WB (soon to be CW) teen drama soundtracks. And indeed, I learned later that two of her songs – “Light Years Away” and “You Wanted It” – have been featured on One Tree Hill. She’s also provided the vocals for a Mercedes-Benz commercial.

Judging from tonight’s performance, MoZella has already started developing a hardcore fan base. Lots of flashing cameras, and at least one really intense (and borderline creepy) fan, up front and center, arms outstretched and swaying widely to the music.

“You wanted it, you wanted it, don’t lie to me / Don’t act like I wanted it more. / You wanted it, you wanted it, don’t cry to me. / It’s time that we settled the score.”

MoZella was followed by Sierra Swan, a singer-songwriter of an edgier variety. She took the stage — except for the red hair, almost unrecognizable from her promotional photo — and launched into a series of growling, angry-sounding and very very loud songs, supported by what appeared to be an excessive number of back-up musicians. Ears ringing, M and I had to leave before her set was through.

I will say this for Swan, though: she has good taste in music. In an interview last month, she named The Cure‘s Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me (aka KM3 ) one of her top five “great albums.”

There are 2 Comments ... Uncorked & Unplugged @ The Canal Room

Qsoz
August 24, 2006

I love the Cure. Did you know their first band name was The Easy Cure, which they later shortened. I miss you, Lol.

HYB
August 24, 2006

Hi Qsoz. Did you mean, “I miss you, laugh out loud,” or “I miss you, Lol Tolhurst,” the former band member of the Cure?

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