Nellie McKay's Quirky Aim is True

PHOTOS BY MUHAMMAD ASRANUR

If you thought it wasn't possible to blend jazz classics, political humor, whistling, and just a little ukulele, last night's (Oct. 4) Nellie McKay show at the Independent would have set you straight. Introduced over the loudspeaker as "the next President of the United States," and surrounded by a closely seated crowd illuminated only by candlelight, the precocious blonde songstress arrived carrying a pile of songbooks, delicately stepping on stage in sparkly flats and a yellow dress adorned with crepe sashes.

McKay then opened with Duke Ellington's beautiful plodding "In a Sentimental Mood," before elegantly stroking the keys on "There You Are in Me" and "Food" from 2006's Pretty Little Head. Soliciting participation from the audience by breaking them into three groups to sing nonsensical lyrics, McKay sang "Work Song," and, with a grimace, wryly teased fans by encouraging thoughts of "Dick Cheney's smile."

Her political barbs were rampant throughout the evening -- she referenced Hillary Rodham Clinton on Obligatory Villagers tune "Mother of Pearl," and introduced classic "Don't Fence Me In" as "a song about illegal immigration." While McKay wrapped with Herman's Hermits favorite "Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter" on ukulele, the night's surprise standouts featured the songsmith's own theatrical charm on Perry Como hit "Prisoner of Love," and Patsy Cline tune "Walkin' After Midnight," which she delivered in a rollicking player-piano style, with just the right amount of twang -- perfect and lovely.

We asked: Nellie McKay's new album Obligatory Villagers is dedicated to the "disappearing landmarks of the Poconos." What would you dedicate an album to?

Name: Julian Rowand
Age: 31
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Occupation: Student
"To the subwaltern because it doesn't get recognized. And to Emily."

Name: Emily Zimmer
Age: 27
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Occupation: Social worker
"I would dedicate an album to the teens I've worked with over the last two years."

Name: Derek Botelho
Age: 30
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: Filmmaker/writer
"As corny as it sounds, the hope people will treat each other better."

Name: Eugene Parker
Age: 28
Hometown: New York, NY
Occupation: Film/TV
"Something about love, my family."

Name: Jeni Diaz
Age: 27
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Occupation: Advertising account manager
"My dog, Luciano because he's very free-spirited and I think people need to learn from that."

Name: Virginia Wang
Age: 32
Hometown: Boston, MA
Occupation: Product Manager
"To the places in the world that are changing and using their traditional culture in the race to modernize."

Name: Siobhan Quinn
Age: 27
Hometown: Sammamish, WA
Occupation: Software engineer
"Martha Stewart, for bringing out the homemaker in all of us."

Name: Joseph Gabriel
Age: 28
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Occupation: Architect
"I would dedicate Nellie's album to not releasing two-disc albums."