A crowd of PSU students appeared entertained on Monday night April 7, 2008 in the Fireplace Lounge. It was on this night that singer/songwriter Jessica Sonner took the stage for another installment of Acoustic Café.
Sonner, who often travels and plays with a backing band, has been making the rounds of a college tour just her and her guitar. Despite having her favorite guitar, a Taylor recently damaged by airport personal, Sonner played an amazing set of pop-rock country style acoustic ballads.Opening her set with a track entitled “Took ‘Ya Love” Sonner displayed her powerful voice. Somewhat similar to a cross between Tracy Chapman and Sara Bareilles, Sonner’s voice was perfect for her singing about love and loss.
Sonner’s second song “Forget You” is a standard break up song. On this track, the crowd reacted well to a country song with pop tendencies. “Be With Me,” Sonner’s third song of the evening may just be the single off the record. The song is featured on Sonner’s new record and it had the crowd singing along with the chorus as well as keeping time by snapping their fingers. The song was more on the pop side but that did not mask Sonner’s obvious musical talents.Sonner state “the next song is about friendship. “Rescue Me,” as it is titled, featured moving lyrics such as “If I wade into the waters, and they get too deep, rescue me.” Sonner then performed a slower ballad like love song called “Fool.” The song was minimal on guitar, but was carried by her powerful voice.
Other songs from the evening included “This Backyard,” a track about good times spent with old friends, and “Still Be Here.” The song is about “the ups and downs in life,” stated Sonner. If “Be With Me” is the first single off the record, then “Still Be Here” would certainly be the follow-up.
Sonner made a nod to her musical taste when she performed a cover of John Denver’s “Leaving on a Jet Plane.” Yes, the song from 1998’s disaster flick Armageddon. However, Sonner’s take on the song was beautifully done. The track was slowed and Sonner’s fresh voice carried the song through.
Next Sonner performed a brand new track, which was “Only a week old,” according to Sonner. The track, which did not have a definite name, though Sonner said the song, might be called “Dreaming,” based on the lyrics. The audience was invited to participate by clapping along. The track was and up-tempo number that encouraged the listener to “Keep on dreaming” and “Keep on believing.”
Sonner closed her set with “All We Need.” This track is the title track off of Sonner’s new record. The track had Sonner singing, “I want to make an impact, I want to make a difference.” Sonner very well may have done this in the FPL as she set the bar high for the next performer to grace the acoustic café’s stage.
For those who missed Jessica Sonner fear not, more information is available at Myspace.com/jessicasonner and Jessicasonner.com.