Jessie Frye at the House of Blues Dallas

Going out as the support act for Eric Hutchinson at the HOB’s Cambridge room Jessie Frye didn’t come with a great remit to impress; small venue support artists rarely do. The venue was filled to half capacity and people gravitated more towards the bar than the stage for a while, but, slowly but surely her particular gravitas drew people towards the stage.

She seemed so unimposing coming out to the stage dressed in a plain hoodie and accompanied only by her guitarist; frankly their presence made even this little stage seem like a broad chasm. But when she opened her mouth she became transfixing; whether she was at the piano or standing up and singing, almost acapella at times, over the subtle acoustic guitar; she had this almost other worldly intoxicating aura.

Her melodies and timbre have a surreal quality that really captivates you in the way they rise and fall; and from someone so unassuming and petite, her voice is huge and beautiful. This sort of surrealist vibe continues in her lyrics as she twists mundane, homely seeming, subjects into a technicolour vocal performance. Imagine, if you will, a Salvador Dali still life; full of day to day objects contorted into something seemingly even more beautiful.

Her performance closed to a smattering of applause; yet she was so gushing and genuine in her gratitude towards those who attended. This humility in itself was such a refreshing aspect of a young performer; one whom almost didn’t believe me when I said I had come to the merchandise stand for her CD instead of Eric’s.