Alice Smith
Joe's Pub425 Lafayette Street, New York 10003
Alice Smith returns to New York for an evening at Joe’s Pub, a room she describes as special to her from the start of her career. Billed simply under her own name, the show centers on Smith’s songs and voice; the available listing does not name any accompanying musicians or specify a backing-band lineup.
NYC-bred singer, songwriter and producer Smith is known for an artful blend of bluesy, soulful vocals and mid-tempo grooves. Her critically acclaimed 2006 debut, For Lovers, Dreamers & Me, introduced “Dream,” a Grammy nominee for Best Urban/Alternative. She has sung with the Black Rock Coalition and Tamar Kali, and has collaborated with Zero 7’s Sia Furler and Imani Coppola; producer Syience and singer-songwriter Rebecca Jordan are also named as trusted collaborators. Vibe said her sound “evoke[s] Fiona Apple’s finest material,” while The Rachel Papers called her voice “soulful, bright, powerful, unique.”
The stage is set in a converted library space with a striped bar and photos of legends like Leonard Cohen and Amy Winehouse lining the walls. You'll find yourself seated on velvet couches or at candle-lit tables, close enough to hear every note from the back. The sound, engineered by technicians who've worked with John Legend and The Notorious B.I.G., is consistently ranked among the best in New York. Three shows a day, dinner and drinks served throughout, and a menu ranging from Italian small plates to craft cocktails; it's a place where music and conversation flow together, and where both rising stars and legends have made their U.S. debuts.