Joan as Police Woman Arrests NYC Fans

Just after 7:30 P.M. last night (May 14) New York City’s Mercury Lounge was starkly populated and dimly lit, much of the packed crowd sitting criss-cross-apple-sauce by the stage awaiting what would become a welcomed shock of beautiful sonic authority. A shimmering blanket draped over a keyboard came to life as Joan as Police Woman, a.k.a. Joan Wasser, finally formed a chord after a little pre-show banter. “This is the first single off our new record,” the songstress whispered before diving into To Survive‘s “To Be Loved,” its swaying, lounge groove and bright keys lighting up the venue from wall to wall.

Cloaked in red, Joan intricately weaved the audience through a bevy of hushes and cries, while — at times — pinning us under a blanket of low bass tones and dreary guitar rings. During “To Be Lonely,” Joan had the stage all to herself; her tender vocals spiraled into our ears — it was hypnotic and inquisitive like some lost passage of the Bhagavad Gita. On new track “Hard White Wall,” her band clamored together to pummel with hard-hitting drums and electric guitar slashes.

Before closing the show sans band on Real Life standout “Eternal Flame,” Joan questioned aloud, “Isn’t it positive to survive?” After her voice droned to a whisper and the tune kicked in, it seemed most agreed, basking in the fact that Ms. Wasser survived long enough to make an excellent sophomore record, and flaunt it live to her most devoted fans.

We asked: If not a police woman, what else could you see Joan as?