Live Review: Torres @ 9:30 Club, 9/23/13

Torres first caught my attention as I was compiling my list of recommended bands for this year's Hopscotch festival. Seeing as I missed the festival, I was quite pleased to get another shot to see Torres live, as they pulled into DC pulling opening duties for Okkervil River.

Mackenzie Scott, brainchild of Torres, appeared without ceremony, dressed all in black, and almost shyly picked up her guitar and cooed "hello." Flanked by a pair of Chrises, Scott and her compatriots ripped into their set with abandon. Live, Scott's voice is quite raw, quite pure. There's a power to her vocals that's very grounded, very much of the earth. Her voice has the ability to surprise, not to mention captivate. 

I was even more impressed with Scott and Torres live than I had been prior to the show. Her voice runneth other with emotion, possession, longing, and experience beyond her years. There was such a contrast between the near ferocity of her singing and the quiet demeanor Scott presented between songs. "You guys are great," she commented appreciatively at one point, and someone near me countered with a robust "You're amazing!" Which, in my opinion, isn't that far off the mark.

I found Torres to be definitely as good, and probably better, than advertised. Scott comes across as incredibly genuine, and coupling that with her serious vocal chops makes her, and her gentlemen friends, a can't-miss, rather special live experience.
   



[photo by Megan Petty]