NINA GORDON at the NOW Lounge, December 4. Tickets: free. Attendance: 50. Rating: NN Rating: NN
Nina Gordon paused during her brief solo gig at the NOW Lounge to assure admirers of her late, lamented band Veruca Salt that she’ll never turn into Jewel. Sorry – promise not kept. Not that anyone could have had too many expectations for an industry showcase like this one. Gordon was obviously here to express her appreciation to her label for releasing her new solo CD, Tonight And The Rest Of My Life. Strumming guitar lackadaisically, with acoustic guitarist Michael Eisenstein in tow – and inaudible most of the time – she played six ballads, almost all with the same four chords, in what was more a polite gesture than a heartfelt performance.
Not that two acoustic guitars and a single voice has to be dull. Later that night, Madonna performed Don’t Tell Me with her guitar teacher on David Letterman. Fumbling on the strings, eyes glued to the neck – she’s new to the instrument – she still made the intimate moment work for her. Gordon’s got some work to do before she can pull off the same trick.
