With more and more frequency, niche bands have been pulled from their relative obscurity and given a chance to reach out to a more mainstream crowd. Be it via a spot on a hit TV show, an amazing album that catches the ear of a rock critic or, even more so now-a-days, good old promotion using the internet. Bands such as Architecture in Helsinki, Dirty Vegas, and Bob Mould, singer of the iconic and often overlooked Husker Du, have been given the chance to line their pockets with some well deserved cash and receive some even more deserved coverage by selling their songs to Sprint, VW, and the O.C. More rarely though, there are artists who are not only given a little extra website traffic by this sort of thing but who actually launch a career because of it. Ingrid Michaelson is one of those acts.

Anyone with a TV last fall undoubtedly heard her quirky, twee voice singing to an unnamed lover about her sweater in an Old Navy commercial, and earlier in the year several of her songs on the ever popular Grey’s Anatomy and One Tree Hill. Armed with only the knowledge of her Old Navy commercial and my girlfriend’s seal of approval, I went with her and a few other hipster friends of mine to her most recent Nashville appearance.

After two very enjoyable opening acts, both male singer/song-writers, Ingrid came on at about 9:45 and that is when the show took off. Coming out quickly and quietly, Ingrid immediately burst into what I would consider her best song, “Breakable,” and I was hooked for the rest of the night. The whole set was broken up with fun, pleasant stories and antics, including a funny little story she tied in with her hit “The Way I Am,” about a girl stealing her sweater at one of her recent shows. All in all, I had a blast, Ingrid was cute, quirky, and put on one of the better shows I’ve seen recently. Check out the videos I’ve linked and, if she’s booked anywhere near you, check her out. I don’t think you’ll regret it; she is indie-pop at its finest.

A tour schedule and videos are after the jump!

Jun 20Terminal 5New York, NYHeadlining
Jun 22Golden Gate ParkSan Francisco, CAAlice’s Summerthing
Jun 23House of BluesAnaheim, CAHeadlining
Jun 24El Rey TheatreLos Angeles, CAHeadlining
Jun 25House of BluesSan Diego, CAHeadlining
Jun 26Club CongressTucson, AZHeadlining
Jun 28Avalon TheaterSalt Lake City, UTHeadlining
Jul 1The Beaumont ClubKansas City, MOHeadlining
Jul 2The PageantSt. Louis, MOHeadlining
Jul 3SummerfestMilwaukee, WIFestival
Jul 480/35 Festival – Western Gateway ParkDes Moines, IowaFestival
Jul 6

Rothbury Festival

Rothbury, MIFestival
Jul 20Dick’s Sporting Goods ParkDenver, COMile High Music Festival
Jul 22 Qwest Center Omaha, NESupporting Dave Matthews Band
Jul 25 Verizon Wireless Music Center Noblesville, INSupporting Dave Matthews Band
Jul 26 Verizon Wireless Music Center Noblesville, INSupporting Dave Matthews Band
Jul 29 Crew Stadium Columbus, OHSupporting Dave Matthews Band
Jul 30 Blossom Music Center Cuyahoga Falls, OHSupporting Dave Matthews Band
Aug 26Anderson Center / Binghamton UniversityBinghamton, NYHeadlining
Aug 31Bumpershoot FestivalSeattle, WAFestival
Sep 26Austin City Limits FestivalAustin, TXFestival

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