On Wednesday night, July 17th, the anticipation was palpable. The crowd waited with drinks in hand for the opening act for Phoebe Ryan, Josie Dunne.
The young musician came on with a bang as her keyboardist/guitarist/back up vocalist introduced her to the stage with a Rocky-Esque intro. Her stage presence exuded pure energy and joy, like an energizer bunny, as she ran on stage and burst into song. The crowd sang along as she jumped, kicked and fist-pumped to her own anthems.
She was authentic and unabashedly her charming self. Throughout the set, there were some technical difficulties with sound, which she laughed and brushed off with a quick joke. The show must go on after all. She even bribed the audience with free merch to clap as she hurled T-shirts into the crowd.
The Chicago raised and recently Nashville resident, has been on tour for the past year with notable indie names, such as Ben Rector and Julia Michaels. she has also been featured in various festivals and following her own US tour.
Releasing her first EP, “To Be The Little Fish,” in 2018, this new on the scene artist has been making a name for herself in the indie-pop realm. In all of her music, Dunne captures a nostalgic side of music, with inspiration from 1920s jazz, Motown, Stevie Wonder, and Etta James. However, her voice is reminiscent of the growling harmonies of Christina Aguilera, making an unexpected yet cohesive mix.
A short and sweet set left the crowd begging for more. She played her most popular songs, “Sunday Morning,” “Old School,” “Mute,” “Goodboys,” and her most recently released single, “Ooh La La.”
Her eclectic use of instruments kept us on our toes, from breaking out the trumpet for “Old School,” or a xylophone for “Mute.” She proved to be a Jackie of all trades and a master of her own sound. This young artist has much more to show us, and her momentum is just getting started.