The audience of 403 people at Keri Noble's Fargo Theatre concert Thursday got a rare treat.
In a time when looks and overly slick polish dominate the music industry, they got to see an artist at the dawn of her career, when she hasn't been overwhelmed by marketers bent on making her successful in the same manner as everybody else.
Noble mixed songs off her debut recording, "Fearless," with songs off her next CD, which she will begin recording in June. Early in the show, she held up pieces of paper, including a scrap of paper towel filled with writing, and explained that those were the words to some of the songs off the next record, so new she hadn't fully memorized the lyrics.
And when she rose from her electric piano to sing at a microphone, she didn't know what to do with her hands. She occasionally mimed playing the piano, or rested a hand on her stomach like singers do during breathing exercises.
That, and her stunning looks were part of the concert's visual charm.
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Behind the look was a pleasantly raspy but powerful voice, deft piano work and a relaxed performing style.
Her passionate singing was matched by Noble's own lyrical gifts. Many of her songs are about the uneven terrain of strong emotion. Even on defiant numbers like "Let It Rain" and the Latin-tinged "I Won't," there's just enough uncertainty and pain to make the point slightly ambiguous.
It was on the slower, more melodic numbers that she shined the most. "If No One Will Listen" was given an achingly beautiful reading; it didn't hurt that lyrically, it's probably her best work.
If the marketers do get ahold of her, they'll probably up that schmaltz quotient a bit. Hopefully, she'll have enough will to resist that. Her considerable writing and performing gifts are sufficient.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Tom Pantera at (701) 241-5541
