Mindy Smith sells out Eddie's Attic

No introduction was necessary and none was given as the renowned alt-country star took the stage last Thursday in Decatur. Following an opening set by Atlantan John Pringle, the second-floor listening room in Decatur adopted an eerily idolatrous silence in respect of the petite brunette approaching the stage.

But the crowd at Eddie's wasn't always so receptive. Thirteen years ago, back when Eddie's Attic was in its infancy, Mindy Smith competed at open mic night to less than tumultuous applause.

Hoping to win the opportunity to perform her own set, a disappointed Smith walked away that night without even placing. But she didn't give up. In 2003, Smith returned, respected well enough to get her own show, but apparently not well enough to fill many seats.

"There were 10 ladies here for a birthday party and a few stragglers who wandered in during the set," said Smith. "But they were all really kind and stayed till the end of my show. After the party one of the ladies came up to me and said 'You were great. The next time you come the show is going to be sold out.'"

And she was right. Smith serenaded a full house of eager listeners last Thursday in her first Atlanta appearance since Long Island Shores, her sophomore album, was released last October. She opened with "Out Loud," an appropriate choice for the lesbian haven that is Decatur. With lyrics like "Hey friend why are we always hiding / It's no wonder that we're sinking down/ Why should we stand in lonely shadows/ With so much light around" the song resonated with many of the fans who were preparing for the weekend's annual gay pride festival.

Whether the song was written specifically for that demographic I don't know for sure, and it really doesn't matter, because the breadth of topics covered by her songs that night assured that everyone could relate to most, if not all of them.

Smith was relaxed as she exposed her life on stage, lyrically giving life to memories of losing a loved one, becoming a woman in the shadow of a preacher father and expressing the childlike love she holds for her dog. Though the depressed tempo departed from that of her two albums, her melodious vocals delivered the sounds which fans had become accustomed to.

Often accompanied by only her acoustic guitar, Smith's music has been classified as folk, country, Americana, bluegrass, pop, rock, and even alternative. Her songs reflect an intermingling of the two states Smith has called home- Tennessee and New York. While her lyrics often evoke a sense of big-city sophistication, the simplicity of her clear voice harmonizing with her acoustic guitar is reminiscent of old-time Appalachian music, similar to what many consider the classic Appalachian sound. Though her genre-defying sound has likely impeded her rise to fame, her talent has delivered her to the forefront of the alt-country scene. With music videos featured on CMT and performances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, it's clear that she has a following.

Thankfully, she hasn't let the success get to her head. Following a standing ovation, Smith returned for an encore presentation beginning with a cover of Dolly Parton's "Jolene," the song that launched Smith onto the musical radar when it was included in the Dolly Parton tribute album, Just Because I'm a Woman, released in 2003. All eyes remained fixed on Smith as she tuned her guitar for the next song, and then a cell phone rang. Muffled voices whispered "how rude" and "can you believe it?" as audience members tried to pin-point the culprit before Smith reached for her bag and answered the phone.

"Hey Chris, I'm playing a show in Atlanta right now. Can I call you back in a minute?"