WPA at Joe’s Pub (08/19/08)

Photos: Jon Klemm

Fittingly for a collective named after a New Deal agency, the group distributes its singing and songwriting duties. Mr. Bulla, whose regular post is with Lyle Lovett, arrestingly carried “Remember Well,” a ballad that he imbued with aching sincerity, and “Cry for You,” a tough-minded plaint jointly written with Mr. Phillips. There was a hint of Nickel Creek whimsy in “Paralyzed” and “Already Gone,” written and sung by Mr. Watkins.

The most commanding vocalist, though, was Ms. Watkins, finessing the Ray Davies ballad “I Go to Sleep,” which appears on the album, and belting “Long Hot Summer Days,” a John Hartford stomp featured on her own self-titled solo debut. She also took the lead on “The Price,” a song by Mr. Tench with all the sobriety of a Protestant hymn. [NYTimes.com]

Not to ape Nate Chinen, but for my money, Sara Watkins stole the show on Wednesday night.

More photos from the Joe’s Pub gig after the jump, more tour dates over here.