Amythyst Kiah is going to be famous. That’s the first thing Karen (of Karen and the Sorrows) told me, and when I heard her perform life this past Friday I knew it to be true. No less than Toshi Reagon was in the audience. I’m sure she felt the torch had been passed. Kiah’s exquisite voice is matched by her guitar work. The blues fit her like a glove.
Dig showcases Kiah’s brilliance. She gives Son House’s “Grinnin’ In Your Face” a weighty dignity. “Myth”, which as far as I can tell is an original, soars as Kiah shows the full extent of her vocal range. But Kiah doesn’t confine herself to old timey music — her interpretation of Radiohead’s “Fake Plastic Trees” brings the house down. While Dig serves primarily as a calling card for Kiah, the best way to experience her music is in person. I don’t think it’s an understatement to say that Amythyst Kiah will remind you what it is to love live music. I’m excited to see her name on a marquee very soon.
Amythyst Kiah — Official, Facebook, Bandcamp, iTunes, Amazon