Kim Acuna delivers energetic show
CD RELEASE: The local singer made her audience feel welcome.
 

By CINTHIA RITCHIE
Anchorage Daily News music reviewer

(Published: February 4, 2003)
 
 

Most of the women wore sweaters. Comfortable, muted sweaters that looked as if they had been worn many times. The kind of sweater worn not just for warmth, but because it feels so reassuringly familiar and cozy. 

Which was exactly the tone of Kim Acuna's CD-release concert Saturday night in Wilda Marston Theatre. More than 200 casually dressed people filled the theater in anticipation of a homey, well-broken-in show. 

And they weren't disappointed. From the introduction to the last lingering notes, the show was strangely and wonderfully cozy. 

Acuna took control the minute she began to sing. Her breathy voice filled the theater, rising and falling in earthy rhythms. Opening with "Shattered Moon," she painted the mood of a small, intimate cafe, the type of place you go when you're on the verge of falling  in or out of love, and all around you lurks an air of stranded anticipation. 

She continued in the same vein until hitting "Save It for Me," a jazzy tune with an energetic beat that allowed Acuna to make the most of her voice, drawing it out and then pushing it soft and full before adding a lilt of underlying toughness. 

The first set ended with the CD title cut, "Shadows," arguably one of the strongest cuts on the album. The live version was faster and more energetic, with Acuna's voice breaking down to a whisper-hard, catchy cadence. 

The music was the biggest hit of the evening. Instead of relying on the typical bass backup, Acuna wisely blended piano, violin, drums and bass, adding a sophisticated depth not normally heard in local concerts. 

Special note must be made to the violinist Mari Jamieson, who lent a precise and awesome performance, especially during "Just a Few More Minutes," and the rest of the band: Vinnie Palazzotto, Heidijo Smith, Dolores Catherino and Ken Sease. 

And not enough praise can be directed at backup singers Lisa Jamieson and Irenerose Castillo, whose voices blended in such smooth, rich harmony that it was almost intoxicating. Acuna would be wise to include the two talents on her next CD.

What distinguished this from other shows wasn't just the music, however; the small, homey touches made the audience feel as if it were part of the event. From taking pictures of the audience for her Web sites to blowing her nose onstage, Acuna was as achingly real as a sister or best friend. She didn't gloss things over or try to be witty or pretend to be anyone other than who she was: a woman with a better-than-average ear for blending music and performing songs. 

And a woman smart enough to know that the way to an audience's heart is through its stomach. For during the intermission, there was a spread of sparkling apple juice, crackers and cunning little pastries, followed by a raffle. It felt less like a concert and more like a pie social. 

Perhaps Acuna consumed a few of those clever little pastries, for when she took the stage for the second half, she was more than ready. 

"Go for it, Kim," someone yelled from the audience. 

And she did. She buckled down and gave us the Acuna we had been waiting for. From "So Long" to "Just a Few Minutes," Acuna added a confidence that made her shine. And the band got in the spirit, too, during an upbeat, rocking rendition of a "Someone You Love," a tune so jazzed that it had most of the audience members holding tight to the arms of their seats to keep from dancing in the aisles. 

The last piece on the program, "Say Goodbye," was the sort of sarcastic, lively, getting-even-at-ya song that everyone, especially the women, couldn't help but nod their heads during and agree that "Yeah, been there, done that." 

After a rousing ovation, Acuna returned with Palazzotto and Catherino for a therapy-mocking song. As she strummed on about codependency and fear of commitment, the rest of the band danced across the stage, swinging hips and panning crazy gestures. Acuna never missed a beat, not even when pianist Smith "bumped" her in the middle of a high note. 

The last song, "Waiting for a Kiss," captured Acuna at her best, deep-throated and sexy and almost growling with desire. It was the perfect way to end such a cozy, intimate evening. 

Cinthia Ritchie can be reached at critchie@adn.com