The Lizard Lounge is a club beneath a restaurant in Harpo, that section of Mass Ave between Harvard and Porter Squares in Cambridge. The club is intimate and friendly, it has nice oriental rugs, red curtains and red lighting, and it always delivers a good show. The stage is right there on the floor, so if you show up early and get a seat, the perfomer will be singing into your beer. Last night I went to there to see Nashville “alt-folk” singer Sarah Siskind and the Cambridge-based Maybe Baby. It was really an all-star cast up there. Sarah sounded great with and without accompaniment. I haven’t heard her sing in years, so it was a real treat because I think she’s zoned in on a style and written some great songs since then. Sometimes Sarah looks and sounds like she just stepped out of the 1800s, though her arrangements have a modern twist to them. She has really good control of her voice, and she can really hit upon some haunting melodies. If you get a chance, pick up the record Covered.

Maybe Baby was also pretty tasty. Last night it was five-piece band with petal steel replacing the usual organ/piano. They sounded pretty excellent, and it was great to see Jennifer Kimball again (I saw her probably 10 years ago with Jonatha Brook & The Story). I liked being so close to the stage, watching Duke Levine’s insane guitar solos and Billy Beard’s drumming. Good show!