Erika Anderson of EMA is a South Dakota native who relocated to Los Angeles, spent some time in the band Gowns and has been thrust into the indie-buzz spotlight. This was her first headlining tour and the show tonight in Madison was virgin territory for the statuesque blonde. But little did we know the stars were aligning and a special guest was in the house.
The light crowd made up mostly of hipsters and the ever growing contingent of Madison music bloggers crowded the stage for a pre-pitchfork festival glimpse of this new indie darling. Erika worked the stage like a new millennium Patti Smith telling stories like a poet from her latest album Past Life Martyred Saints. The song “California” was striking and encapsulated the EMA live show experience.
Ironically, there’s a girl in Madison who bears a striking resemblance to Nika Roza Danilova aka Zola Jesus. This twin of Nika was in the club this evening. I said to myself, “There’s the woman who looks like Zola Jesus.” Then I noticed a shorter person standing next to her in front of the stage. I took a double-take. By God, it’s the real Zola Jesus in the flesh! Evidently Nika and her keyboard player Alex were in town ahead of their own Pitchfork appearance and were checking out a fellow Los Angeles peer.
What are the chances of having two of the most buzzed about indie divas in the same club? Both women now living in Los Angeles. Both with these mysterious personas, fueled by intense indie blog coverage. Even funnier, that through the chic indie hipster image Erika is actually from South Dakota and Nika from Wisconsin.
Well, the inevitable happened and Erika of EMA invited audience members to come up on stage and sing with her. Nika joined her for an impromptu cover of Tommy James “Crimson and Clover.” I know what you’re thinking to yourself. If only Merrill Garbus of tUnEyArDs could have made it, we could have started an all female indie super group!
