Saturday 04/02/06 Regina Spektor, Only Son @ Shepherds Bush Empire, London

The diminutive half-Bronx, half–Russian with a name like a sexy 60s spy, Regina Spektor, is finishing her first major tour of the UK with this night at the ‘Empire. The audience is a varied bunch of curious indie fans and older 30 somethings.  The tour promotes 'Mary Ann meets the Gravediggers and other short stories by Regina Spektor', the eccentric, long-winded title perfectly mirroring the unconventional themes and vocal tics that are the speciality of this artist.

Support act, Only Son, comprise one man, Jack, who looks slightly startled in front of such a large audience. Each song is started with Jack fiddling with his iPod which provides the backing track. Only Son’s melancholic singing style but lyrical cheerfulness is reminiscent of Brendan Benson. He may have grasped the technology but the iPod gives Only Son the unfortunate and probably unfair look of a posh busker in front of this large audience.

Then the ‘Empire fills to capacity for the main attraction. It becomes obvious when Regina Spektor arrives on stage and is greeted by a bloke bellowing “I love you!” that many here are besotted. “That’s frightening” replies a slightly scared Regina. She plays her set without a band and shifts between a grand piano, keyboard and guitar. What’s truly original about Regina is how funny her songs are and the way she plays with the sounds of her words. She even makes the audience laugh with a story of her friend OD’ing twice. Strumming her guitar, Regina produces the stunning lyric, “someone next door is fucking to one of my songs”. Great stuff.

However, don’t think that Regina Spektor is just looking for laughs. “All the non-believers get to spit on the grave” hints at the darker edge evident in many of the tracks. Crowd favourites include keyboard and drumstick combo ‘Poor Little Rich Boy’ and current single ‘Us’ and are played with plenty of archetypal verve. The end of a set, after an impressive twenty-three tracks, is a standing ovation similar to the UN announcing world peace. Regina just looks bashful.

Due to her charm and wit Regina Spektor has gained some devoted fans. However, there’s a depth and eccentricity to her song writing that stands out. If you’re into distinctive song writing with a voice strong enough to switch from fragile to raucous in seconds then give her a listen.