T on the Fringe: Sandi Thom @ The Liquid Room

The thing about Sandi Thom is that it's hard to understand why someone who broadcast a gig from her basement on the internet can so suddenly become more famous than the Pope. Having said that, as she demonstrates here at her sellout gig at The Liquid Room, she most certainly can belt out those tunes, without a duff note to be heard. However, as she progresses through her set, she curiously unfolds in a manner reminiscent of a young Alanis Morisette, only less original. The message behind her songs is clear, and she certainly has some talent, but it is lost amongst bland tunes and a lack of stage presence. Despite this, the audience love her, particularly as she warbles her way through an acoustic version of Gnarls Barkley's Crazy. The sad thing about Thom is her potential, completely drowned out by her overall middle-of-the-roadness. However, this is nothing that five years touring and some originality won't fix. [Claire Mapletoft]