Kat Edmonson: “What Else Can I Do”
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Amidst all the South By Southwest hustle and bustle, it’s nice to have artists like Kat Edmonson. The Austin singer is the epitome of cool, and her smooth voice was the perfect alarm clock for SXSW Day Two. With her band in tow, Edmonson performed early in the morning for KUT at the Four Seasons, and despite her unassuming demeanor, it ended up being a can’t-miss event.
For Edmonson, that’s par for the course. She’s been wowing audiences both large and small for several years now. Her credits include duets with Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett and international touring as the opening act for Smokey Robinson. She even competed on the second season of American Idol, before being eliminated when Randy Jackson told her she didn’t look like a star. But tell that to the Four Seasons crowd. The bright-and-early attendees gave Edmonson a warm response as she effortlessly fronted a band that included upright bass, light percussion, subtle electric guitar. Her songs pay a debt to jazz of the past, but updated for a new generation.
Most of the set was a preview for Edmonson’s sophomore release, Way Down Low, due out April 10. One of the highlights was the samba “What Else Can I Do,” today’s song of the day. This is just a taste–be sure to check out the entire performance right here.
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