So Pretty

Local chanteuse and pianist Katy Stephan's new record Saints of the Lost Cause Saloon is full of her signature pop-classicism laced with a brass-band festival sensibility; it features contributions by Ara Anderson, the Blue Belles, and Alex Kelly. It also comes packaged with extra treats, like old-fashioned paper dolls and a recipe for 10 gallons of frosting. The toys make a fine metaphor for her music: sweet, vintage-y, and unexpected. One hears a lot of men influencing Stephan, good men, like Rufus Wainwright, Stephen Sondheim, and Erik Satie. But she's all lady, mister: her classically trained soprano brings to mind Jessye Norman's mod opera moments. We especially love little numbers like Léo Delibes' "Flower Duet" from the opera Lakmé (and if you know anyone else who can pull this off, please let us know).
Sat., June 28, 3 p.m., 2008