Sally Jones Meets Ricki Lee
"May I have a photo?" asked Aussie singer-songwriter Ashleigh Mannix from Gypsy Avalon's stage. "Everybody standup! This one is going to Australia!" Such a moment was typical for Mannix's set of Rickie Lee Joneseque set of strong vocals and twanging guitar. The young performer, who has been playing since she was 11 was unaccompanied, standing in the middle of the stage alone in an orange head band and patchwork dress.
Mannix sang love songs and "that bad old man" songs, folk singers' bread and butter. "This is one I wrote a little while ago, and it's a love song," she giggled before responding to an audience comment with "Yeah!" And sure enough -- "Oh I love you, oh I do!"
It was yet another perfect selection for the Gypsy Avalon, which may not get the dancers out but always has an appreciative audience. When Mannix spied one guy rocking it, she invited the rest of the audience to dance to her next tune, "Sally Jones," about a bad woman who steals your man. The crowd down front took her up on the request.
On a side note, speaking of bugs, GA is the kind of place where a dragonfly will land on your hand and stay there for five minutes. You can give it as a gift to the person next to you, in the case Hiro from Tokyo, before it wanders over to someone else.
Mannix finished with a cover of Jones' "Danny's All-Star Joint," a solid complement for her big voice and pleasant afternoon vibe. She's hooked into the surf crowd, so maybe your looking at a female Jack Johnson taking over beach by beach. Her first album was just released so if you're in the market for some catchy folk, head over to the GA sales booth.
Reported by Donald Eubank (2008.07.26 / 17:57)