To Return To You... Kat Parsons Soars

here is a phenomena that descends upon Los Angeles every June, blanketing it in musty gray clouds that linger for a month. It is known locally as the June Gloom. Yet even this thick coating of fog was no match for the brilliant shining star known as Kat Parsons.

Kat hit the stage of the Hotel Cafe like a hurricane pounds the Florida coast; you wait with nervous excitement for it to arrive, then you are swept up in the power of the spectacle before you. She is a one-woman powerhouse of entertainment. Her songs are exquisite, funny, heart-wrenching and touching. At times her voice can be soft and delicate like a wayward lamb, then shift gears and turn into a teasing torch-song singer, as well as throwing it into overdrive with a soaring quality that can barely be contained by the venue.

Tonight we were treated to a longer set than her appearance at The Gig last month. It was a stripped-down, bare-bones performance; it was Kat's night to shine in a solo set. There was one exception, when she was joined onstage by fellow singer/songwriter Libbie Schrader. They recently collaborated on two new songs which they played in the middle of the set. As ever, we had the pleasure of soaking up Kat's wit and charm. Unlike many performers, Parsons' onstage persona is the same offstage: she's the real deal.

The performance was a preview of what is to come; Kat Parsons will be in residence at the Hotel Cafe for the month of July, with performances every Wednesday night. It is going to be a good summer for music.