Date of show: October 12, 2010
Megan Bonnell celebrated her debut self-titled EP release at The Magpie and brought along some other great acts to support her. Unfortunately, we were not able to catch the sets by Nadia von Hahn, Darren Eedens, and Owen Steel and His Royal Highness. However, I can certainly attest that, by the time we arrived, it was completely packed. The Magpie hit capacity and, really, what more can you ask for in a release party?
With a folk-pop sound reminiscent of Regina Spektor, Megan Bonnell had a great set. Almost to completely offset her youthful spirit, her voice indicates a maturity that is impressive for someone celebrating a debut release (although, she was previously in Reily). Her vocals are sultry and alluring, with power even in her quieter moments. She clearly is comfortable at her piano, as she was effortlessly showcasing her songwriting ability with help only from a drummer on certain songs.
Now, normally I do not comment much on venues, but this one did leave something to be desired. While The Magpie is a hot spot for hanging out, it certainly does not lend itself well to a show of this nature. The sound was a little muffled and it was a little difficult to hear introductions and lyrics. The layout left many people unable to see anything and, as a result, the event became a time to socialize, which only contributed to the difficulties with hearing Bonnell. It’s a terrifically intimate venue, but it certainly did not do Bonnell’s beautiful voice any justice.
Megan Bonnell shows a lot of promise and I hope to catch her in a slightly bigger venue. And, from what I heard, you should too. Keep this budding songstress on you radar and, while you’re at it, grab her EP!
buying shots for bands 
Leave a Reply