Tuesday 14/02/06 Laura Veirs @ Academy 2, Liverpool

It's good to know that somewhere under the weight of red and pink tack there is some sincerity left in St. Valentine's Day. In a spacious room with tables and (not enough) chairs there seems to be nothing but couples with their rapt attention directed towards the woman with a guitar and loop pedal chatting away on the stage. Without her Tortured Souls tonight, Laura Veirs is for those who appreciate a gentle voice and quirky turn of phrase.

Like Feist, but less polished; she is a higher class of
singer-songwiter, inventive but without being overly 'artistic' like
Regina Spector et al. She can move seamlessly from childhood
reminisces to unworkable relationships with her analogies of Matadors and daisy chains, then crown it all with a haunting ending, looping her voice and guitar with the pedal she tells us is her favourite toy; improving on the usually spare solo arrangement.

She isn't weighed down by ego like some of her counterparts and comes across as a perfectly natural performer. One who draws you in with the pure quality of 'Song My Friends Taught Me' and her propensity for melody on 'Lake Swimming'. Plus offering requests is a popular part of the gig. To see your favourite small artists and getting to hear your favourite obscure early album track beats any amount of overpriced exploitation-farmed cut flowers anyday.