Kate Nash at the Bowery Ballroom

Kate Nash was born to an English father and an Irish mother in London, England. She wanted to study acting, but was rejected from several drama colleges and universities, so she worked for a fashion retailer and a restaurant chain. In 2005, she broke her foot in a fall, leaving her homebound, so she started recording demo tracks at home, uploaded her music to the internet, and became instantly popular. Nash's 2007 debut album was a hit in the United Kingdom and she was named Best Female Artist at the 2008 BRIT Awards. This led to acting roles in four movies and a relocation to Los Angeles, California. Nash released her third and most recent album, Girl Talk, in 2013.

At the Bowery Ballroom tonight, Nash seemed to be equal parts sensitive singer-songwriter and riot grrl. Backed by a female guitar/bass/drums trio, Nash both sang gentle songs and rocked out to stripped-down power pop songs. She alternated between a smooth voice for the softer numbers and a harsher, grittier voice for the rockers. Both voices were rather plaintive. She commanded attention, however, especially when she moved away from her guitar and keyboards to work the stage with only her microphone. The simplicity of her voice and her musical arrangements suggested that her potential audience may be found largely among teen females and their dates.

Visit Kate Nash at www.katenash.com.