From the moment Lorraine Klaasen opened her mouth, the singer brought vibrancy, in every sense of the word, to the
otherwise bleak Xerox Auditorium space. Decked out in exciting colors and
filling the stuffy hall with full-bodied gritty vocals, Klaasen was riffing and
growling with each note. It was clear she was there to have a good time.
And the audience responded well — she had people dancing in
the aisles. Although most of us were confined to seats, you’d have been hard
pressed to find a body that wasn’t moving in some way. Still, Klaasen’s
performance style might have been better served in a more intimate, casual
venue. Her simple, joyful approach to singing could be perfect for a café or
bar setting.
Klaasen’s distinct musical style is culturally charged and you
can hear the influence of her South African heritage in every note. None of it
is manufactured — she’s as authentic as it gets. The personal nature of her
performance was particularly apparent in a song titled “Lorraine,” a letter
written to Klaasen from her mother, set to music.
Above all else, it was Klaasen’s storytelling ability that
really made her a show-stopping performer. Although most of the songs she performed
weren’t in English, I could still understand every word. Her body language and
facial expressions were loud and clear, emotion emanating through every pore.
This article appears in Jun 25 – Jul 1, 2014.
