Opening for Durand Jones at les Étoiles was French (but English-singing) artist Josie, which in all honesty we hadn't heard of before tonight. For an aging music fan like yours truly, the name Josie obviously conjures up memories of Steely Dan, and sometimes her music isn't far removed from that "Yacht-Rock" ethos. But with her silky pop songs with a sultry soul vibe, the most obvious comparison would be St. Vincent.
Armed only with a saxophone player, some backing tapes and some really great songs like her first single Crash, she peppered her short set with funny stories and poignant anecdotes, endearing herself and her music to the small crowd despite the stylistic differences with the night's main attraction. And with an appearance in a French comedy film to be released in October, one thing's for sure: we're going to be hearing a lot from her in the months and years to come.
