Imelda May at the Bowery Ballroom

At age four, Imelda May sang in church with her older sister. At home she listened to the record collection of her four elder siblings and by age nine, she was a fan of rockabilly and blues. She began singing in clubs when she was 16 years old and occasionally was barred from her own shows for being underage. May later formed her own band and married her guitarist, Darrel Higham. She recorded her 2003 debut rockabilly album under her maiden name, Imelda Clabby; the album was -issued under her married name in 2005. Her fourth album, Tribal, was released today.

At the Bowery Ballroom tonight, May was quick to redefine herself as more than rockabilly. Wearing a super-tight bare-shouldered black and white striped dress and red high heels, her ponytailed black hair accented with a thicket of blonde curled high above her forehead, May gave a contemporary spin to yesteryear's rockers and bluesy torch singers alike. Backed by Higham on guitar, Dave Priseman on guitar, trumpet and flugelhorn, Al Gare on bass and Steve Rushton on drums, May launched her set with full-throated sass on "Tribal." Higham's cutting guitar licks and the rhythm section's steady beat lent rockabilly authenticity. With the second song, "Wild Woman," the band accelerated the pace, as May's vocals became even more exuberant. "Big Bad Handsome Man" then had a Latin lilt. "It's Good to Be Alive" featured a country groove. Later songs showcased May's lush romantic side with smoky Billie Holiday-styled passion, especially with "Gypsy in Me" and the first encore, a low and slow cover of Blondie's "Dreaming." The Irish singer crooned impressively well through a grab bag of traditional American sounds which she threaded together with a rich rockabilly swagger.

Visit Imelda May at www.imeldamay.co.uk.