Nikka Costa is everything a performer should be...
by 1QOTSA1 on 1/23/11Roxy Theatre - West HollywoodI have been a fan of Nikka Costa for many years. This is my third show and of course, she delivered. She is not only gorgeous but she got some serious pipes! Nikka is the barometer by which ALL performers should measure themselves. Her vocals are all kiler, no filler. She has a sense of humor and a sense of gratitude. The musicians that back her up are amazing as well. (The trumpet player rocks!) Nikka has fun with the audience and engages them. She has reverence for the songs that she knows her fans want to hear ("Like a Feather" "Everybody Got Their Something") and thankfully, includes them on the setlist. I cannot overstate how excited I was to hear a couple of new songs that blew my mind! Particularly, "Never Want To See You Again"... it has a rich, lounge-fly, seductive vibe.. the closest comparison I can make is the lush sound of "Damn I Said It First" off of the Pebble to a Pearl album. In the world of homogenized 'music' she is rare - a performer, songwriter, drummer, guitarist, and all-around foxy lady. She is the single most under-rated female vocalist/performer on the planet. And although I think it's a shame that her music is not considered 'radio-friendly' it only makes you appreciate her more for not selling out.