Originally published in NME 26th February 2011

Last time NYC’s Sharon Van Etten played the UK, she stared more at her feet than the folk who’d turned out to see her play. This time, however, she’s armed with a bit of Dutch courage. “I almost burped into the mic!” she hiccups gaily, setting down her wine and breaking into the doleful ‘Peace Sign’ as if she means war. While disdainfully blank-faced at the betrayal that litters ‘Save Yourself’ and ‘Don’t Do It’, she giggles when throwing her head back to ‘One Day’, before trilling a totally a capella ‘Love More’. She might have forgotten the guitar part, but she holds your gaze all the while.

You may also like...

• You’re Smiling Now But We’ll All Turn Into Demons – Contact High With The Demons (0)
• Your Twenties, O2 Academy 2, Bristol, 12.04.10 (0)
• Y Niwl – Y Niwl (0)
• Wild Beasts – Smother (0)

Tags: NME, Sharon Van Etten