“The one thing certain about Ms. McKay is the size and range of her talent.” – The New York Times
Among Ms. McKay’s charms, Mr. Byrne said, are the way she playfully mixes what he called a “tragic noir vibe” with her “wicked sense of humor.” – David Byrne, Wall Street Journal
“A renegade songwriter with an ultraflexible Great American Songbook sensibility. McKay finds modern resonances everywhere.” – Rolling Stone
“McKay comes on as a Harlem Holly Golightly, a social activist with a disarming mastery of pop vernacular.” – Los Angeles Times
“I admire any artist with the strength of vision to chart her own creative path, and it’s hard to imagine a better example than singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Nellie McKay…her performances are thought-provoking, emotionally affecting, and fun.. her sweet voice and innocent demeanor mask a singular ability to wield the catchiest popular music idioms of the last century in the service of a fiercely independent intellect.” – Renee Fleming
We are extremely pleased to welcome the brilliant, intensely independent and always enjoyable Nellie McKay back for her 8th stop at Jaqua Concert Hall, being finally back on the road, this time in support of her newest collection of songs, Bagatelles the companion release to her 2018 LP Sister Orchid. Of the EP she writes, "Herewith find a basket of freshly picked garden songs – just a merry and melancholy bouquet of music, as resilient as a wildflower, and as moody as a rose. With autumn leaves comes longing, for what is gone and what’s to come.. kick back and give yourself some credit. This is music for the come rain or come shine crowd – just a little something to wet your whistle."