If you were to look at Natalie Prass, her presence is rather unassuming (svelte frame with a mop of dark locks). However, once she opens those lips – dear me, a flood of soul comes spilling out.
Strapped with a guitar that nearly riviled her, the Virginian native commenced her set softly and sweetly. A half-full Horseshoe Tavern, combating back-room chatter, did little to damper Prass’ mood, intermittently injected with banter that had her recounting Janet Jackson’s recent show in Chicago to her quest for a singular “Toronto anthem.”
Once you looked past the minor distractions of crowd noise and monitor hiccups, it was futile not to be enthralled by Prass’ swagger, evolving subtly onstage from folksy strummer to torch pleading wild flower.
The set-list, which comprised mainly of her stellar self-titled debut (minus the string-and-horn-heavy instrumentations), was bursting with passion. The night’s high-point came with My Baby Don’t Understand Me (an album stand-out) which roused the captivated audience into a lullaby singalong that left even Prass speechless.
Bookended with a stirring rendition of Why Don’t You Believe, Prass gestured her appreciation to the engaged Toronto crowd like you would expect any Virginian to do: a glass of whiskey in hand.
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For our interview with Natalie Prass, click here.
Photos by Myles Herod | @MylesHerod