LIVE REVIEW: Leerone at Room 5

There are those rare occasions when there’s a sparkle in the air one can almost see and taste. A gem of an artist about to be discovered is before our eyes, and we are the lucky few to witness this butterfly before her wings take her to far away lands. This was my experience at the intimate Los Angeles venue, Room 5, catching LA singer-songwriter, Leerone, perform new material to which she hasn’t even yet recorded.

This utterly delightful young woman, accompanied by a box-drum percussionist as well as an additional keyboardist, performed seven songs on her own keyboard ranging from the sticky-sweet “Honey Bee” to the down-right sassy “Little Light.” Don’t be fooled by Leerone’s contagious smile and twinkling eyes, however, as this lass has a soulful voice that penetrates with lyrics like “underneath I heard the melody inside the noise” and “Hello, Vincent, in the chair, collecting dust, stories that rust, ’cause there’s no one there.”

Upon completing her set with the tender ballad “Love, Love, Love,” a gentleman’s voice from the back of the room hollered, “Otra mas, Otra mas!” (another one, another one) to which the lovely Leerone responded, “Another night, you’ll have to come back another night.” No encore for us, but it was the perfect response. Leave your audience wanting more. We’ll most definitely be back!

photos by: Carol Steitz