Emily Wells' Lyrical Chants Entrance
By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 19, 2009 4:00PM
Emily Wells
We caught Emily Wells at this weeks Edible Audible Picnic primarily because she was a) playing directly across from our office and b) our significant other was very excited about the set. We admit we'd heard her cover of the Notorious B.I.G. song "Juicy" that had been making the rounds, but were unimpressed, and figured it was just another example of a female folkie going after some mainstream acclaim with a quirky cover.
So we entered Millennium Park expecting to sleep through the set. Only we find ourselves transfixed by the diminutive figure onstage that kept creating intricate beds of sound by looping toy pianos, xylophones, synthesizers, violin, and various other "instruments." Her was simple and she didn't have the largest range we've encountered, but she used phrasing that kept us sliding along every rise and fall of her voice. All of this was tied together by a stage presence marked not so much by its movement, but by its contained restraint. When Wells does move while singing it's usually to rock back and forth over her table of instruments, or to employ a gentler pantomime of an MC as she tries to drive her words through the audience.
Through all of this her only outside accompaniment was a single drummer, playing minimal beats meant to accent the song structure rather than drive them. Wells was at the wheel and in full control of both melody and rhythm, and her mastery of both was almost enough to hypnotize the audience gathered on that sunny afternoon and transport them to a fragile world steeped in emotional hallucination and dreams anchored by sparks created off a slowly smoking violin bow.
If you missed her set Monday, don't despair. She plays this Saturday at Schubas. Her latest musical offering EP, Dirty, available as well.
We've offered a sampling of Wells' music below but feel we must warn you that her recorded work is but a pencil sketch in the light of the multi-layered vibrancy of her live work. You must see her onstage to gain a full appreciation of her talents.
MP3: Emily Wells "Symphony 6: Fair Thee Well & the Requiem Mix"
MP3: Emily Wells "Symphony 4: America's Mercy War"
Emily Wells plays Saturday, August 22, at Schubas, 3159 N Southport, 10 p.m., $8, 21+