Two descriptive terms that come to mind when considering Laura Mvula’s music would be majestic or regal. On stage, Mvula carried herself gracefully, despite any nervousness she confessed to feeling when performing in front of press and music industry professionals for the first time in New York at an intimate venue. As she noted, she knew “who is in the room”. But the Columbia Record execs wanted to celebrate her forthcoming (in the US on May 14) album Sing to the Moon and to continue build the domestic buzz she’s had going since her SXSW dates. They also took the opportunity to celebrate her birthday too, presenting her with a cake after the band sang “Happy Birthday”.

Mvula was giving in return, performing about ten songs for the crowd with a live band behind her. From the moment “Let Me Fall” began, the audience was transfixed on Mvula so self-possessed she was . The truest beauty came a couple of songs in with the title track “Sing to the Moon”. The light instrumentation made it seem almost like a Sufjan Stevens song but formidable percussion gave it the heft and lofted the song to majestic heights. The simple lyrics “Sing to the moon / and the stars will shine” were imbued with such rich energy that you don’t doubt that Mvula sings the truth. “Green Garden” drew the audience to join in with its hand-claps, and seemed to recall Nina Simone’s “Sinnerman” in a small way, but was fully formed and mature enough to stand on its own. For her final song, Mvula covered Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature” drawing some huge applause. At one point, she welcomed the audience to “sing along” with the warning to not “show me up”. But its doubtful anyone in the room could show up such a pristine and lovely voice.

Caveman launched the night at Webster Hall with their first hit “Thankful”. The lilting tune off their debut album Coco Beware found its way onto the music scene a few years ago, but it seems to express exactly how the band is feeling these days. Their self-titled sophomore album is out, gaining traction in the indie world and beyond, as they put the finishing touches on a well-received tour. Singer Matt Iwanusa showered the audience with thanks between songs, even describing them electric, and gave a shout out to his father for making the drive to see the show. Plus the group on stage clearly demonstrated an appreciation of each other’s talents, as they organically weaved through a set list of old and new songs. The band’s wall of sound, featuring saturated layers of guitar reverb, keyboards and percussion, opened up and let loose, while a black grid on the back wall projected colorful graphic patterns to play off the beams of saturated color and strobe lights.

In the heart of Times Square, tourists and fans alike came out to see Shuggie Otis perform a very funky set at BB King’s. The virtuoso blues rock guitarist shot to fame in the early ‘70s but his success tapered out quickly back then. In the generation or two since his last album, Inspiration Information Otis has been rather quiet, but in the past week, with the re-release of that album, he has booked several sold out shows. Starting in Chicago before three nights in New York, then with stops in major coastal cities and a Europe tour this year, Otis is back and in high demand with buzz beginning to build for the album re-release at the end of last year. Check out the photos below and read the perfect score review of that album on PopMatters. If that doesn’t encourage you to see or hear Otis, then maybe sharing some other knowledgeable musical folks’ thoughts (from the press release) about this talented artist will.

John in the Morning, the morning host and show on Seattle’s KEXP is a great resource for new music. Sometime back in August, I caught wind of a band called Houndmouth and their song “Penitentiary” via the station. There may have been something that reminded me of another upcoming band, the Lumineers, in their sound, but whatever it was, I definitely put them on my ‘must see’ list. Unfortunately, it took another eight months before I could do that, but I was well rewarded for my patience. The young band, Matt Myers, Katie Toupin, Zak Appleby and Shane Cody, hail from Indiana and and are eager to share their bluesy music through their constant touring.

In a couple short months the band will see the release of their first full length From the Hills Below the City released on Rough Trade and will accompany the Alabama Shakes on the road for a few dates. In the meantime, you can familiarize yourself with their four-track EP and get all the info about their tour and the new album at their site.

If you recognize her face but can’t place her name, it might be because you recognize her from Broadway’s Once but then you realize her character isn’t given a name more than the simple pronoun of ‘Girl’. Her name is Cristin Milioti and her turn in the girl role in Once has actually come to an end. As she steps out of the massive prints the songs of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova (The Swell Season) created, Milioti was invited to perform at Lincoln Center in the intimate Kaplan Penthouse.

Her set consisted of mostly covers, some rocking, some mellow and a couple of her own songs, that unfortunately seemed to get lost in the midst of the high profile numbers. Leading up to the show, butterflies were in Milioti’s stomach as she feared no one would be in attendance. But her sweetness and gratitude through as she shared her inspirations and her challenges with the audience, which included her parents, members of her family and her boyfriend as well. Her song selections varied across genres but mostly appealed to this writer, with an indie/rock bent. Bon Iver and Fiona Apple songs started the night. Later, in a surprise choice, the plucky “Atoms for Peace” by Thom Yorke was included with her bandmate David Abeles (another Onceer) plucking the piano strings from the interior. The finale was a cover of Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” that Milioti dedicated to her father who had played this song with her at the piano often when she was growing up. It was Milioti’s charm that held the evening together and, in the end, the audience applauded her for opening up her personal songbook to them.