Some people have a "Things to do Before I Die" list. I don't necessarily have a "list," but since I am obsessive about having lists, I do have some idea what I would put on that list. I can honestly say that I can officially check "Have a famous talented musician play a private performance for me" off my list. While I am a bit upset no one took my advice to see Abra Moore at Tin Angel on Friday night, I'm just as thrilled that I got my own private performance. Sitting in front of someone that I have adored and revered for the last ten years for an incredible hour of music is a night that I won't soon forget.

Moore started her set with her beautiful new single, "Sugarite," a powerful ballad with power-house vocals, ethereal vocal effects and a driving guitar solo. Showcasing her voice as well as her new song-writing abilities was a perfect way to start off the evening. Unfortunately, the fans of the previous performer, Matthew Ryan, were obnoxiously talking in the back, which in this venue is only 20 feet away. To say they were rude would be an understatement. Though I enjoyed the opener, Ryan's fans, which turned out to be friends and family, were very inconsiderate of Moore and the audience that had stayed. Just as she was finishing her first song, the last fans finally took their conversations outside. Moore even commented, "Finally we have some peace and quiet now. Good."

From start to finish, Moore's performance was solid. It has been three years since Moore's last CD release, Everything Changed, but she remains just as talented, if not more. On her third performance of her current tour, Moore's confidence seemed as intact as when she was playing the Lilith Fair or opening for Barenaked Ladies. She gave everything she had even if there were only 10-15 people in the audience.
"After All These Years," one of Moore's strongest songs off her new album, was a high point of the evening. The evening ended with Moore's updated rendition of her hit single, "Four Leaf Clover." I would love to see this updated version recorded as a bonus track on a single or a future album.

Abra Moore's comeback is going to be hard at first. Since Moore hasn't been on tour for so long, she will need to rekindle some of her older fans as well as grab new ones. As more people are reintroduced to Moore's music she'll accumulate her once powerful fan base back again. She's got the talent, now she just needs to find her market. For now, look for her interview that will be posted later this week and patiently wait for the June 12 release of her upcoming album. It's worth it. If you are looking for something that will soothe your soul, On the Way will do just that. For now, I'm just happy that I got to cross my "private performance" off of my list.