Brightest Young Things

all photos: Ethan Arpi.

I downloaded Thao’s “Bag of Hammers,” sometime last spring, and it sat there on my iTunes for several months without popping up on shuffle. I forgot that it even existed. And then one day, it started to play. I don’t know where I was or what I was doing, but I recall a feeling of absolute joy or bliss or something. So I looked her up on YouTube, and I found this little video podcast she released with the help of her Kill Rock Stars label last February. Watch this thing, and you’ll know why everyone cheered and whistled each she crept onstage to tune a guitar before her show at the Black Cat on Friday night.

She’s got that women-want-to-be-her-men-want-to-be-with-her air about her and she knows it. But she’s not a bitch about it. She started her hour-long set without much fanfare, and greeted catcalls of “You’re so sexy!” with giggly acceptance.

But her image is quite a bit different than what she actually is. At her core, Thao is a meticulous student of the guitar with roots that extend deep into alt-country and Americana. This talent became clear with the opener, “Moped” a sweet little dirt-road ditty that didn’t so much rile up the audience as it showed off her skills. The second song, “Geography” was the match that lit the fire, even without the keyboards that anchor the studio version. Her support on bass and dorm, the Get Down Stay Down, fell into line, and so did everything else.

Cute lyrics and wild picking aside, the band is an excellent three-piece. Adam Thompson’s rollicking bass lines elevated the set to something more than a sing-along, and drummer Willis Thompson (no relation) leaned on tight snare rolls to give songs like “Chivalry” a genuine back porch shuffle.

Above all, Thao likes to have fun. She jerked and bobbed like she’d just discovered that people love to see her perform. At the same time, she moaned her through verses in a way that made me think she never sings the same song the same way twice. But the Falls Church Native made it clear that she was grateful for her D.C.-area followers. But being serious isn’t her thing. “You are so supportive,” she joked between songs. “Where were you in middle school when it really counted?”

I really wasn’t surprised when “Bag of Hammers” came before the end of the set. Her moany vocal style works well most of the time, but I’m a firm believer in singing your big hit song just like it is on the album. The song was a sliver its original version, but the trio jammed out for a couple of minutes. That seemed to make people happy.

For the encore, tourmates David Schultz and The Skyline and Sister Suvi rambled out for a honky-tonk version of “Feet Asleep,” a song that sounds perfect after midnight. The only drawback to the show was Thao’s limited catalog. Three new songs (which stood up nicely alongside fan favorites) filled out an already lean performance. It’s a good thing that girl can strum.

I feel like I’m complaining, but I’m not. Promise. We all left satisfied—at least for now.

Previously in Live DC:

• 2/14: LiveDC: Die Antwoord @ 930 Club
• 2/13: LiveDC: George Clinton & The Parliament-Funkadelic @ 930 Club
• 2/13: LiveDC: Veronica Falls/ Brilliant Colors @ Black Cat
• 2/13: LIVE DC: Steve Aoki/ Datsik/ Alvin Risk @ Fillmore
• 2/13: LiveDC: The Darkness @ 930 Club
• 2/9: LiveDC: Theophilus London @ 930 Club
• 2/9: Best Weekend Bets
• 2/8: LiveDC: Kathleen Edwards @ 930 Club
• 2/8: LiveDC: Thurston Moore/ Kurt Vile @ Black Cat
• 2/8: LiveDC: Thurston Moore/ Kurt Vile @ Black Cat