Here's an article that was featured on the Palm Beach Post.
Singers satisfy CityPlace crowdSaturday, December 01, 2007"What a special little center of the mall this is!" Vanessa Carlton said, as fans crowded in to hear her on a stage tucked into CityPlace, right near the dancing fountains and the giant Christmas tree.
That an outdoor show and a Christmas tree would mutually co-exist without the risk of frostbite is one of the trademarks of WRMF's No Snow Ball, presented by the Jennifer and Danny Morning Show and featuring singer/pianist Carlton and Ingrid Michaelson. The series of free shows (the second takes place today with Colbie Caillat) got off to a melodious, if humid, start with the quirkily gorgeous indie chops of Michaelson and Carlton's ethereal but grounded virtuosity.
course, free outdoor shows invite obnoxious people who don't remember that they're at a show and not in their living rooms. But you can't let those people destroy one's holiday cheer, right?
Michaelson, best known for her Old Navy commercial featuring The Way I Am, was a delightful opener - imagine an old-school chanteuse in blue jeans and Lisa Loeb glasses, with her tongue planted firmly in cheek and her lovely, clear voice wrapped lovingly around offers to lend her sweater to her beloved, or ruminations on the fleeting nature of snowmen and love. Strong points of her set included the lilting Far Away, a sweet I Can't Help Falling In Love With You and the heartbreaking/uplifting Keep Breathing, the song to which Dr. Preston Burke left fiancee Dr. Christina Yang at the altar on Grey's Anatomy.
Carlton's set opted for rolling piano intros and understatedly thoughtful lyrics instead of quirk,.
Sitting at a piano draped in a piece of creamy white Victorian lace, Carlton projected a healthy dose of class along with a sense of relatability - is there anyone who doesn't understand wanting to take the high road when confronted with one's ex (My Best), as well as wanting to just be heartbroken and sad about the whole thing (Fools Like Me)?
Carlton's a very comfortable performer who chatted with the crowd about the stories behind the songs, like the rainstorm that inspired Heroes and Thieves, and just about anything else, turning the chimes of the neighboring Harriet Theater into an opportunity to think about the troops. Things like that happen when you're playing at a mall. But getting two quality shows for free is a pretty rare bargain.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/local_news/content/local_news/epaper/2007/12/01/m7c_CARLTON_1201.html?cxntlid=inform
