I dig Anni Rossi. She’s got a lot of talent and what’s more, she’s got a lot of guts. Not only does she make some weirdo music that’s going to be a tough sell to anybody not already inclined to listen to weirdo music, but when she’s on stage, she performs most of it alone. Short of fellow string plucking weirdo Final Fantasy, I can’t think of too many people who are members of that club.

And it seems like her gumption paid off at SXSW. She was paired with fellow weirdo-folk acts on the 4AD showcase and the audience seemed way into her. Even though I doubt half the people in attendance were familiar with her prior to seeing her play, she got a great reception. But hey, she earned it. She was cute (after the second song, she told us “I couldn’t find anything else to write my setlist on other than this $260 speeding ticket I got recently”), she had some songs that were real grabbers (“Brick & Stone” sounded like a b-side off Final Fantasy’s He Poos Clouds) and just generally put herself into the performance. It was a great start to the 4AD showcase at the church and I think she won herself a lot of new fans.

Oh yeah, and she covered Ace of Base’s “Living in Danger.” Wicked!