It’s rare that I get a chance to head out to the burbs, but my gal pal Yvette invited me out to see Laura Izibor last Wednesday. To be honest I had never heard of her before the invite, so I spent part of my day listening to her debut album “Let the Truth Be Told” and after the first two songs was all in!

I really like the Showcase Live! Theater, it’s nice that they pair great food, fantastic drinks with a nice evening of talented musicians. Suffice to say this was a perfect “Take your Boo” night, though I did see a few ladies come in with their girlfriends like our group. You know a guy’s classy if he takes you to see a neo soul show on a Wednesday night…ahemm (cough, cough, hint, hint)

Hungry, per the usual, I ordered the tortellini…without chicken, which is kind of pricy at $14 for some pasta, but delectable none-the-less. My girl ordered the calamari and the Black Tie Affair – which features black cherry and pomegranate vodka, topped off with at chocolate covered cherry. You KNOW I had to have one too! And it was delicious!

After being served our food and drink the lights went down and Ms. Izibor set the stage. The thing with most shows at the Showcase Live! Is you rarely, if ever, get an opening act. They just get right to it, which is kinda nice, but it does me you have to show up on time

She was dressed age appropriate, in liquid leather leggings and a sequins top, but the sound that came out of her mouth was well beyond her 22 years. Backed by an all male band of keyboard, drums, bass and trumpet she started out with “What would you do?” and I had to keep reminding myself that she grew up in Ireland, not on Beale St.

As if her soulful singing at 22 wasn’t enough of an accomplishement, she shared that she even writes her own lyrics -  before sharing “Gracefully” a song about when someone doesn’t want to be with you any more, but they don’t know how to say it and letting them know you can take it - gracefully.

One of my favorites of her performance “In a Perfect World” was written by her at 15 (sheesh! I was slackin’!). The intensity in the feeling expressed made me think she was channeling ancestors past.

Although the crowd was relatively small she sang each song full voice, and tried to connect with us by finding commonalities, she makes no excuses for her age, does not try to be more than what she is, she lays it before us as if “Tonight really is her last” – a title of another one of my favorites. But to be honest with her clear as bell sound and soul stirring holds and runs, she could have sang about cleaning products and one would be compelled to stop and listen.

Her lyrics are simple and laded with cliché phrases and catchy choruses are reminiscent of Alicia Keyes, but with decidedly more femininity. And although none of her songs aren’t about topics we’ve never heard before, perhaps it is their simplicity backed by her vocal complexity that keeps us craving for the next line.

She’s one to watch and definitely Fab! Approved