Piper… at the gates of dawn: Piper Davis at the Biltmore, Feb 02 09
-Shawn Conner
Okay, I probably won’t be the last to use that heading, but I might be the first. ‘Cos I just came from the Biltmore Cabaret, Kingsway & Main East Vancouver BC, and caught the most amazing set by a local act I’ve seen in years, possibly decades.
With impetuous, Jagger-like swagger and bedroom eyes, Piper Davis owned the stage from the moment her soulful trip-hop started up. With a crack rhythm section defining the songs, and back-up vocalist/laptopper, Piper was free to roam across the stage, hand cockily on her hip, mannish shirt hanging, and soul-singing her wised-up melodies.
The weird thing was, the number of photographers almost outnumbered the people on the dancefloor, at least early on—there must have been at least half a dozen shutterbugs capturing the magic. It was probably the most photographed Monday night gig—the first weekly event sponsored by the Skinny mag—for a burgeoning newcomer I’ve ever attended.
Who knows, maybe Piper works at Black’s or something. I knew next to nothing about her going in; at the end of the set the guy next to me, similiarly wowed, conjectured she must have taken singing lessons. I would’ve guessed dance. Whatever. A star is born in East Van.
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