Erin McKeown: Grandly Generous

Singer/songwriter Erin McKeown was once a member of the group "Voices on the Verge." Now, she is a solo artist who Mojo magazine described as having "Bjork's girlishness with Rickie Lee Jones' sophisticated confidence."

Sharing some of that confidence with The Saturday Early Show and fresh from opening dates with Dave Matthews Band, McKeown performed "pop n' roll" songs from her latest album "Grand" for the Second Cup Café.

The 25-year-old McKeown hails from Fredricksburg, Virginia, where she started playing piano at age three. Since then, she has learned to create music using various instruments such as bass, drums and guitar.

As a 15-year-old musician, she was unhappy being a girl in a mostly boy cover band, so McKeown started to write her own songs.

She went to Brown University, where she majored in musical theater, but much of her time in school was spent going to local events and playing at open mic sessions.

Her first album, "Distillation," is a favorite of many of her fans. Critics have also applauded her live performances. She was given the top honors in the Providence Phoenix's music poll for "Best Folk Artist" of 2000, and a Boston Music Award nomination for outstanding new singer/songwriter.

Though her fan base and notoriety are growing, Erin wants to keep things simple. She says on ErinMcKeown.com, "I hope that people who like good music, above and beyond any genre, will get this record."