Regina Spektor
Enmore Theatre
July 12, 2007

This is the second of two packed nights at the Enmore, and as the crowd fills (rather heavily with nattily dressed indie boys) all around are murmurs of how incredible last night's show was. On the stage there is nothing but a grand piano. And then she is there: tiny frame, long unruly hair. Lone male voices yell, "I LOVE YOU!" and, "MARRY ME!!" But as soon as Regina Spektor opens her mouth and fills the room with the honey-toned sound of her voice, everyone – everyone - is pin-drop silent.

Her virtuosity is astounding. She sings her first song, voice unaccompanied, and stands a tiny figure in the spotlight commanding the room. She slowly taps out a beat on the mic with her hand, giving the first sign of her unusual gifts which will later culminate in her final encore track – her voice backed by her beatboxing, support act/boyfriend. All unconventional to the last.

As much as the music of Regina Spektor is breath taking in its heartache and wistful undercurrent, it is also half the time, down right hilarious. Her use of her voice as an instrument – along with clicking and whistles and hand claps, and aping the sound of a mouth full of soap - allows her to lyrically pursue the mundane and funny in equal measure, without it becoming a gimmick. It's a kind of Vaudevillian story telling, without the camp.

Favourite of these was a song about a statue of Jesus in a shop front window that the protagonist has to walk past every day, becoming scared for her life by it. Eventually she buys it and keeps it in a cupboard, but fells bad, so puts a flashlight and some sandwiches in there with it - just in case. And "all the unbelievers go to hell, while the believers get to spit on their graves."

She moves to guitar for a couple of tracks, coaxing that beautiful, clean country tone from out of it: "Remember that one time, we found a human tooth on the porch? Remember that one time you OD'd? Remember that one time you OD'd, for the second time?"

This show was something incredible. You're laughing and then you aren't sure why. Your heart breaks until you realise hers does too, along with everybody else in room. But it's alright. Put her record on, you'll be fine. You'll see.