No. 18: Neko Case

Neko Case is an alt-country singer from Virginia who is also well known for being part of The New Pornographers. Case has been around a while, playing in five bands, not including her established solo career, plus contributing to many songs for other groups. Case has five albums out, with her most recent Middle Cyclone receiving critical acclaim, which has numerous guest performers including M. Ward and Calexico. I have to be honest, I was not a huge fan at first, but her music can grow on you if you allow it. She has a very soft, gentle voice, but you can tell behind the mask lies a badass. She pulls off a harder-edge attitude that you pick up on after the first listen through the tracks. I would say she sounds like St. Vincent meets Lucinda Williams. Sometimes it gets a little too country for me, but I can still see myself enjoying more of her music in the future.

We will be welcoming her back to the Chicago stage during Lollapalooza. Case lived in Chicago for a number of years after leaving Seattle, where she said it "wasn't hospitable to its local artists." Definitely the first time I have heard something bad about Seattle when it comes to music, but she said it was the Government with the problem, not with the fans. She will be playing on Sunday at 4:30 for Lolla.

On an odd side note, Case was named "Sexiest Babe of Indie Rock" in 2003 by Playboy. They asked her to pose nude, which she declined, thinking it would ultimately hurt her music career.

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