VV Brown Rocks Bardot for KCRW’s School Night

During Bardot’s School Night event hosted by KCRW, VV Brown treated a jet set Hollywood crowd to a private listening party for her new album, Lollipops and Politics.

With a stage so small that audience members were literally eye to eye with her, she entered the joint like a smokin’ hot siren, all clad in black.  Her dress cut above her knees and sheer cape flowed from her arms, draping to her ankles.  With blunt cut bangs and long, bone straight hair stopping half way down her back, VV Brown’s stage appearance was like a very sexy Morticia Adams.  Save the tribal red face paint emanating from the outer corners of her almond shaped eyes, the quirky British beauty wore no makeup nor shoes, yet her bare toes were well manicured.  By looks and attitude, she was reminiscent of Naomi Campbell with hints of Natasha Bedingfield’s tone, Janis Joplin’s gritty pain, and Billie Holiday’s bittersweet sultriness.

Accompanied by a five piece live band, Brown began the set as soon as she hit the stage, captivating fans while remaining primarily in her own world, eyes closed. Absorbing the music with a few hand gestures and model-esque poses here and there.  Occasionally, she’d awaken to passionately engage with her guitarist, Luke.

Judging by her concert, her new album seems to have much more grit, funk, satire and mature undertones than the previous Shark In The Water . Highlights of her set included the high-octaned Rockabilly-inspired “Quick Fix,” complete with belted screams and feverish jumping;  “Like Fire,” another winner, with a minimalist, uncomfortably sexy, Prince-like feel that grittily pulsed along featuring synth and bass drum; and the album’s debut single, “Children,” reminiscent of Jay-Z’s “Hard Knock Life” with a feel-good vibe laced with powerful, politically charged social commentary, sampling “Turkey In The Straw” (a song made popular by modern day American Ice Cream Trucks).

Tying everything together for those still foggy on who she was, she performed a laid-back, in the pocket, almost half-time version of her hit song “Shark In The Water,” accompanied mainly by piano and tambourine and ending with soulful, gospel-inspired riffs that demanded a few church-like, “Alright now!” and “Sang it!” comments from fans.

Look forward to seeing Lollipops and Politics in stores on February 7th.

Set List:

1. Tough Like Glue
2. Famous
3. Red Balloon
4. Quick Fix
5. Shark In The Water
6. Like Fire
7. Children