There are some performers that seem to blow up over night and have a nice steady career. Others seem to explode and disappear just as quickly as they appeared. Nikka Costa burst on the American scene back in 2001 with the ‘70s fused funk of her first single “Like a Feather” and along with the title track, “Everybody’s Got Their Something,” proved the 28 year old singer was worthy of her buzz. Her 2005 follow up and a tour with Lenny Kravitz, Costa seemed ready to soar to the next level. That climb seems to have been slower then her talent deserved. However, now signed to the legendary Stax record label, everything could change with this year’s release, Pebble to a Pearl.
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Nikka Costa
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 Entertainment
 Art
Park West
Chicago, Ill.
October 28, 2008
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Nikka Costa is a fireball that could not be contained by the intimate Park West Theatre. Her voice seemed to rupture the windows and worked up the crowd to a full funk frenzy. First, she took issue with those still in their amphitheatre-like seats: “All right, I’ll give y’all some time to come down to the front!” Next, she bullied and cajoled them until, at the end of the show, they cheered so loud they probably had laryngitis the next day.
Her signature curly river of a red mane, whipped around as she belted out soul inspired “Stuck to You” and “Without Love.” Besides possessing a powerful voice that can conquer the undulating scales of her songs without faltering, Nikka’s show is sassy and smart, with plenty of attitude and laughter. She playfully teases her audience and if you are not having a good time, she will definitely shame you into it.
The “just have a good time” message is not new. In fact, Nikka seems to have been wrapped in a time capsule in the sixties and been dug up in the present day by her band, who played with her once they were charmed by her voice. But she’s not a regurgitated, watered-down antique; she has a modern edge and a lot of talent. It’s refreshing for a live performer to be so engaged with her audience, even when feelin’ up her guitarist or trumpet player during their solos.
As varied a musical palate as the guitar, bass, keyboard, trumpet, trombone, and drums provide, Nikka’s vocals can keep up if not dominated them. The band on stage is a definite collection of diversity whose talent and funky style makes you want to get up and dance - to shake anything you got. To engage with Nikka, whatever she may ask of you, whether it’s bellowing blues scales back or alternating the volume of a chorus to create a bare whisper in a room of several hundred people.
Nikka Costa is a vision, an experience, and her band is brilliant. When in a funk, Nikka helps lift the soul.
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