“An Echo Chamber for the Soul”: Laura Stevenson brings Wheel to MilkBoy

There is a jangle, a soothing pop sensibility and something uncannily new encased in the sounds of Laura Stevenson. Last Friday she and her four bandmates turned MilkBoy into an echo chamber for the soul.

A voice both delicate and direct, Stevenson aims for the orchestral and the highly intimate on her 2013 masterwork Wheel. The crowd was hanging on her every syllable, often singing along to such catchy works as “Runner” and “Eleonora.” Harmonies would magnificently mix with slide guitar, accordion and heartbeat-like percussion. A talent with a seemingly limitless potential, I cannot wait to hear what she has in store for us next.

The night began with Keith Gibbons of the local band Modern Suits playing a solo set. Featuring songs from the band’s forthcoming EP Every Light, Gibbons put an acoustic spin on the Suits’ rock. Catch the whole band release show at Kung Fu Necktie on November 21.

Following up Gibbons was the alt-country talents of Meghann Wright. Playing songs from her 2014 self-titled EP, Wright and her rich vocals were a great warm-up for Stevenson.