Kate Nash @ Henry's Cellar Bar

The pink neon sign is suddenly illuminated, apparently triggered by the feet of the lady herself as she wanders on stage and chirpily announces: "I've just been in the Chinese up the stairs." It is this same up-front, conversational randomness that brings Kate Nash's songs alive. Like Merry Happy, with its melodic ramblings of dancing at discos and eating cheese on toast. Yet beneath this is often a moving confession, in which nineteen year-old Nash beautifies the seemingly mundane: 'I wish you needed me. I wish you knew when I said two sugars, actually I meant three.' Tonight, her voice has a soft huskiness which is used to transform first single Caroline is a Victim into a mellower affair, stripped down to a wandering vocal and four chords of acoustic guitar. Playing just forty minutes, Nash bows out to what could be the biggest applause the tiny Henry's has ever heard and if there was a replay button for the evening, rest assured it would be worn out by now. [Anna Docherty]