Vocal Oasis

The monsoon was obliging Monday, considering it was late July in the Mojave. Flocks of doves and then the occasional itinerant bat swooped in to see what we were up to as the low-scudding pastel clouds turned evening gray; a moderate breeze sprung up to spread the smoke from the bundle of sage smoldering behind Wendy Rule. The pagan Australian vocalist and songwriter delivered an energetic and full-throated performance at her back-yard “house concert” in the quiet village of Blue Diamond, at the south end of the dramatic Red Rock Canyon, 10 miles west of Las Vegas.

The brunette is a long-time fan; it was her idea to put together one of Wendy’s first concerts in Massachusetts, a decade ago — in Salem, actually. I was glad for a first chance to hear Ms. Rule’s strong and jazz-trained voice up close, as she got inside her tunes and helped us discover some firm and confident notes we otherwise wouldn’t have known were in there.

And all this on her back-up guitar, as one of the tuning heads on the black Yahama steel-string had finally given up the ghost. (I recommended retrofitting with adjustable Grovers. But what do I know?)

She offered selections from “Wolf Sky” and “World Between Worlds,” as well as from her latest; was moved by the visiting bats to do her impression of a flock of Australian fruit bats (“with bodies about the size of kitty-cats”) whooshing overhead, and regretted her 19-year-old son’s band, Amanita, is playing their first gig at a Melbourne pub this week, “and I can’t be there.”

Rolling Stone Australia calls her stuff “dark, sensual sonic theatre.” That’s accurate.

The turnout was sparse, though the few and the lucky were happy for what verged on a private, command performance. Even on a Monday night, I’m surprised more of the local sort who don gowns and armor for the annual Renaissance Fair at Sunset Park didn’t turn out.

Wendy now returns to Australia after three months stateside, so you may have to wait a bit for your next opportunity. The new CD is “Guided by Venus”; www.wendyrule.com/

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