I first discovered Kat Edmonson's music by chance, stumbling onto her music during a late night of editing and searching for something different to keep me company throughout the night. "What Else Can I Do" immediately stood out to me, with her voice so full of warmth and character. One song turned into several, and it didn't take long to understand why her music resonates with so many listeners.
When Kat announced the "Only the Bare Essentials" Texas tour, I was over the moon with excitement. Her music carries a timeless elegance, blending jazz and pop with storytelling that feels both personal and cinematic.
Show Time!
Walking down the historic Pearl District towards Stable Hall felt like part of the evening's prelude as Kat Edmonson's "Only The Bare Essentials" Texas tour finally arrived in San Antonio. The air carried a soft mix of floral notes from nearby landscaping, and as I inched closer to the venue, you could smell the warm aroma of coffee brewing from Local Coffee across the courtyard. Inside the venue, the soft hum of conversation blended with the clink of glassware as people settled in for the evening, and you could hear "We Three" by The Ink Spots setting the mood through the speakers.
Champagne flutes danced across the room as everyone searched for their seats, and the bar moved at a relaxed yet steady rhythm, as if they were rehearsing as the opening act for the show. A bartender scanned the shelves for a bottle of Glenfiddich while another prepared a round of Old-Fashioneds, and staff prepared themselves for a wonderful night of jazz/vintage pop from Texas's own Kat Edmonson.
As the lights settled and conversations faded into the hush, the curtains opened to welcome the Songwriters Hall of Fame award-winning songwriter and singer, Kat Edmonson, and legendary guitarist, Peter Calo. Without skipping a beat, Kat opened up with her twist of "Summertime" off of her "Take to the Sky" album, as Calo ominously strummed along, setting the scene for a night of dreamlike wonder.
Kat expressed how good it was to be back in Texas and how much she loves this beautiful venue, having played here last year. This was the premiere show for her Texas tour, and she had to come to San Antonio first. She let us in on a humorous story of when she was first working on this version of "Summertime," the classic tune by George Gershwin-DuBose Heyward. She was living in Austin, working out various repertoires, and settled on an arrangement for it, playing it regularly once a month at the Elephant Room. One of the nights when she played that song, she stepped off of the stage, and a kid came barreling down the aisle toward her with his eyes wide and mouth agape, stopped right in front of her, and said, "Wow! Did you write that song?" and she replied, "Yes!" The audience laughed along joyously and applauded.
Next, she introduced the next song on her setlist, a cover of The Cure's "Just Like Heaven." Everyone in the room was mesmerized as she poured her heart out into this performance. Her unique, captivating voice filled the room as we were suspended into a world without time, and being able to witness her performance was really just like heaven.
Kat laughed between songs and announced, "I actually did write this next song," as Calo introduced the next song, "Champagne," by playing a fun rhythm on the acoustic guitar. The crowd laughed and cheered as Edmonson belted the first line of the song "I'm never going to drink again!" It was truly a night filled with great storytelling and a spin on traditional jazz. She shared that sometimes she doesn't know what she's going through until she starts writing a song and thinks to herself, "I must be going through something," and in this case, she was going through a hangover! She mentioned that she was irritated that she was hungover and thought, to spite herself, she would write this fun song.
She introduced the next song with a story from a breakup in 2010, describing the moment as both strange and comforting. Searching for a bit of solace, she found herself pulling into the parking lot of a Nordstrom Rack when the melody and lyrics for “What Else Can I Do” suddenly arrived. In her mind, she heard Nancy Wilson singing the tune and caught herself thinking, "Sing it, Nancy! I love this song." Then came the realization that she had never heard that song before. Watching the store’s doors close as the sun dipped lower in the sky, she abandoned the errand entirely and drove away with a new song instead, choosing to follow the muse wherever it led.
Some of my personal favorite songs and stories from the night were:
"Rainy Day Woman" - She shared that the song began with her imagining scenes from a horror film, picturing an unhinged character at the center of the story. But once the production started, the vision changed, and she decided to lean fully into a cinematic, James Bond-style sound instead, joking that the goal was to make it so undeniable, the Bond estate would have to call. It hasn't happened yet, she admitted with a smile, but she's still holding out hope
"All the Way" - Before performing this song, she shared that the song was written in a hotel room in Europe during a wave of homesickness. After finishing it, she emailed the song to her mom, who quickly replied, "Oh boy... did you write this for me?" Kat admitted she hadn't, but her mom wasn't having it and responded sweetly, "I don't care. It's mine, and I'm taking it." The crowd broke into soft laughter and a collective aww as the story settled over the room.
"Keep Moving" - She shared that the song was written in memory of her mother, who passed away in 2014. She reflected on how loss can suddenly shift your life into motion before you're ready, describing the experience as being carried by a wave of grief toward an uncertain future. Whenever she felt stuck or overwhelmed, she said her mom would gently bring her back down to earth with a simple reminder: "Keep it moving, Katherine." After her passing, Kat recalled standing in her living room one day when the phrase in the song returned to her and quietly thought, "Thanks, Mom."
"The Line" - Her newest single! She shared excitement about finally bringing it to audiences on this tour. She spoke candidly about the reality of being an independent artist, noting that one of the most valuable forms of support today is simply sharing music online. She encouraged everyone to post about it and spread the word on social media, and that would mean the world to her. And in that same spirit, here you go, Kat! Join the conversation and let us know what you think of "The Line" in the comments below!
After performing "Lucky," she stepped offstage to a full standing ovation, playfully teasing the possibility of an encore. The crowd quickly called her back with cheers and whistles, and she returned with another story to share for the next song, "Sparkle and Shine."
She recalled, in a joking manner, moving to Hollywood, California, at two years old seeking fame and fortune. When she took a job in California, they attended a small Episcopalian church off Santa Monica Boulevard, and so did Fred Astaire! He would sit quietly in the very back, while Kat and her mom sat near the front so she could see everything. Her mom would lift her onto her shoulders, and, as the story goes, Fred Astaire would occasionally wave. Each time, her mom would lean over and say, "That's your friend, Katherine." Later at home, when the same man appeared on television, she would repeat the line. For years, Kat believed she and Fred Astaire were friends. With a smile, she explained that she eventually wrote a song for him to sing for her in a movie. Since he couldn't be there that night, she said she would sing it for him instead.
I highly recommend you check out Kat Edmonson's music! Those who filled Stable Hall experienced something truly special. The intimacy and atmosphere of the evening made it feel like a one-of-a-kind moment. Anyone who missed this stop of the tour missed a night that felt personal, heartfelt, and uniquely memorable.
Tonight marks the final stop of the tour at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas, closing this chapter of performances on a high note!
If you weren't able to attend, there are still meaningful ways to show support. Purchasing merchandise directly from the artist, streaming her music, and following along on social media all make a real difference.
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