A Fine Frenzy staged an intimate performance at Club 279, above The Hard Rock Cafe last night.

For a group with such a name, you'd think they'd make a bigger splash the first time round. But this mellow introduction somehow seemed quite appropriate. After an hour or so of open bar and coctail nibbles, the band emerged from the darkness to play in front of a sizeable gathering of a mostly industry and media crowd.

Quietly taking the dimly lit stage in her classy, white patterned dress and heels, 21 year old singer/pianist Alison Sudol soon enchanted the appreciative audience with her haunting, soulful songs.

Accompanied by a simple keyboard and percussion duo, Sudol treated the audience to a handful of songs from her debut album, One Cell in the Sea on the Virgin label.

Read on to find out when they'll be back in Toronto....

This being the first time Sudol performed in Canada, she was bashful about her American accent and commented in between songs how surprised she was about the decent turnout.

Expect to see and hear more of A Fine Frenzy soon. They're currently doing tour dates with Rufus Wainwright. Sudol returns to Toronto with her band to play The Phoenix Concert Theatre on October 9 for the Vh1 You Oughta Know Tour with Brandi Carlile.

Photo by Roger Cullman.