Live Review: Megan Washington

Washington

Megan Washington's appearance at Ellington Jazz Club was met by appraise from the adoring crowd. With the noticeable indie pop antics of her usual performance being left at the door of the Ellington, punters were invited to a more intimate rendition of her songs; with just her voice, a grand piano and an attentive audience listening away. The gig almost felt like a monologue rather than a show, with Washington throwing hilarious and often tragic anecdotes in between her songs, giving way to a richer experience and bringing the audience that much closer to the witty composer.

The unplugged nature of Washington's set established a mood of sombreness among the crowd. Armed with only her robust voice and the piano's dulcet tones, she played her songs artfully, convincing the crowd the unplugged nature of her performance was in no way lacking. One of the early songs to have played in her set was 80 Miles, a slow serenade which complemented the low-key, cosy atmosphere of the jazz club. After a quick quip about her music being on the same sombre level as Bryan Adams, Washington delved into her next track Mirror In The Mirror. Loud and ominous, Washington's vocals allowed the lyrics of the ballad to echo across the venue.

In order to break up the long procession of sordid music, Washington launched into a new song that was comparatively light in tone; a torch song about love and longing, it demonstrated Washington's abilities to construct bright melodies from her vocals. After cracking open some more comedic anecdotes, from dating to tour pranks, the next track To Or Not Let Go was aired. A poetic song about beauty and adding to the recurring night's theme of love and pain, it was a gentle ballad that ebbed and flowed into the punter's ears.

After a few more heartbreaking songs and witty comments from Washington, the close of the performance was heralded by the inclusion of Limitless. Saving the strongest track for the close of the night, Washington belted out the indie-pop song with gusto. With each chorus getting louder and more pronounced after each verse, it really outlined Washington's talents as a performer and songwriter. The night was brought to a close with a song that was based on the tragic romance between a gorilla and a woman at a Rotterdam zoo. However quirky the inspiration for the song may have been, Washington still pumped it out as a hit.