What’s a Boston-born country music star (several #1 singles and gold and platinum albums!) doing in New York? Singing at Feinstein’s at Loews Regency, the sophisticated venue, that is starting to take some downtown-style chances à la Joe’s Pub and Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Allen Room.

This adventurous booking paid off with a tuneful and inspirational set that flew by pretty quickly. Messina took requests and answered some of the audience’s questions in a program that consisted of her original tunes, covers and classics.

She is at once casual, yet no-nonsense, as many a true professional is. Her obliging band contributed with tight harmonies and backup vocals, never obscuring her powerful and inspirational performance. Ms. Messina’s voice is a powerful country-pop style instrument that fits her clever and moving tunes. Her “That’s God” fervently challenges the naysayers by listing the wonders of the natural and spiritual world. She expresses unbridled sentimentality in “I’m Alive Because You Love Me” and shows a gift for the double entendre with the snappy "My Give a Damn's Busted."

Citing Bonnie Raitt as one of her main inspirations, Messina delivered a torching “I Can’t Make You Love Me” (“…if you don’t…”), a song by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin, associated with Raitt as part of her well-rounded and satisfying evening.

Melody Breyer-Grell
Cabaret Scenes
March 16, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org