Missy Gossip and the Secret Keepers

Danneman’s Coffee Shop, Atlanta, Georgia 

Performermag.com 

November 16, 2008 

By Vanessa Voigt 

In line with their new series, Citysearch hosted Eat Drink Listen, and to take care of the listening part, they featured Missy Gossip and the Secret Keepers at Danneman’s Coffee Shop. With Citysearch providing all guests with yummy munchies and a keg full of beer, the event would have been a great way to spend a Sunday evening even if the music made the listening part hard to do. But in this case, the classy yet cozy location, interesting and sophisticated crowd, and all the beer you could take in were mere perks of the night. The real Citysearch treat was the band, and they didn’t take their time warming the crowd up to their electrifying, sound.  The first song, “Pale Green Lights” came in like a rush of adrenaline, and the whole crowd was completely enticed. The band gave an upbeat, powerful sound with a western twang, and the vocals of Lauren Staley soared through the room, smooth and rich with incredible depth and soul. Her voice was reminiscent of a Janis Joplin meets Patsy Cline. The band’s music followed suit, with their sound being a hybrid of psychedelic 60’s meets old school country.  The third song “Grimace Sisters” embodies the style of Missy Gossip and the Secret Keepers, and that is catchy choruses with even catchier hooks. The kind of stuff that draws a person into the song, longing to hear the same notes again. And Staley knew how to hit each one just right, by sending the audience chills with her emotionally torn, yet seductively soft voice.  Her voice was especially moving in the song “4 Horsemen” where the band walked off stage and left Staley alone with her guitar. The only thing that pierced the crowd more than her voice was her blue smoldering eyes. It was beautiful, relatable heartache, and one person in the audience was even moved to tears.  When asked where Missy Gossip and the Secret Keepers get their inspiration for their unique folk, country, rock sound that truly taps into a person’s heart and soul,  Staley simply said, “Booze and heartache.”