Carrie Fussell performed a solo set at the Volstead this past weekend, and as an active songwriter in the Austin music scene, she is a fantastic example of an authentic Austin artist. Carrie plays solo sets and you can also hear her performing with her other band, Calliope Musicals. A love of creativity and music radiates from her in an effusive manner. Her songs are honest and her presence is as genuine as it gets. Her album, Songs By A Bear, on Spotify, is the juiciest album I’ve listened to all year even though she put it out in 2017.
She appeared as a pixie in a black leotard with green bangs and smiling eyes, with a voice and vulnerability destined to ground listeners to the present. Her songs are playful, inspirational and are sung just as gracefully as they are unraveled sensationally. Her sound is so pleasantly arresting that passerbys are frozen in their tracks after having heard her sirenic prose.
“Kitty of the year” is dedicated to her kitty who died. Her angel voice, the syncopated chorus, and the relatable nature of the song make this an easy favorite. Carrie is a one woman show, singing all the songs, playing all the music, expertly looping her vocals creating the effect of a choir backing her.
-Melissa Green