David Karsten Daniels Strikes Gold

When a singer-songwriter gets signed to England's adventurous Fat Cat label, you can bet that artist means business. So it was that Seattle's charismatic David Karsten Daniels knocked the socks off everyone who came across last year's Sharp Teeth, his Fat Cat debut. He's back already with the recent Fear of Flying, another collection of songs both rousing and strange. The single "Martha Ann" arrives gilded with horns and organ, politely strolling down the sidewalk as Karsten makes casual use of his country-tinged singing and subtle lyrical gold. The man will do no wrong when he performs with Nina Nastasia and Lazarus on Thursday, May 1, at Hemlock Tavern at 9:30 p.m. Admission is $10; call 923-0923 or visit www.hemlocktavern.com.