www.myspace.com/katemann "> www.myspace.com/katemann ">Kate Mann is much more than a pretty face with an acoustic guitar.  She is an artist in every sense of the word, and her music speaks volumes way beyond her years.  The New Mexico native's style was shaped by her surroundings of endless skies and vast deserts, giving her a Southwestern disposition that is a little bit treacherous.  Affected by such artists as PJ Harvey, Townes Van Zandt and Tom Waits, Mann possesses a gritty and somewhat jagged sound as she enlists unusual chord progressions to accompany her gruff vocals.  While she writes with abstract metaphors that could be construed as idiosyncratic, her messages come across compellingly clear.  Since her arrival to the West Coast a decade ago, Mann has become one of Portland's most recognizable talents, winning audiences throughout the entire Northwest.  Mann's debut disc, November Songs, was released last year.  This first outing was recorded live in the studio in a single weekend, and it shows â€" I mean that in a good way though.  The disc captures Mann raw and exposed.  The minimalism of each song is refreshing as she takes you on a dark journey to the center of her soul.
Check her out tonight. 9 p.m., free, Iron Rabbit Restaurant & Bar, 2103 Harrison Ave. N.W., Olympia. â€"  Tony Engelhart