Sweet dreams

Dean & Britta and Keren Ann perform a heavenly set in Chicago

By Kirstie Shanley
Published: February 12th, 2008 | 3:31pm

February 10, 2008, in Chicago — In a show to be cherished, Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips — formerly of the heavenly, now-disbanded Luna — played a set that felt like a calm embrace, even in its most intense moments. Layers of guitar and bass felt like a sweeping cascade to be savored, as the duo performed "You Turn My Head Around" and the dreampoppy "Moonshot.”

Drawing from both the Dean & Britta and Luna catalogs, the keyboard and drums made the set complete, but the spotlight was on the chemistry between Wareham and Phillips. The married couple has created such important indie-rock history for years and the two have developed such an impeccable sense of timing both instrumentally and vocally, the latter highlighted especially well in "Ginger Snaps.” Watching them gives the feeling that they were meant to be together, not just as husband and wife, but also as musicians creating harmony in a world full of discordance.

Keren Ann charmed the audience in a different sort of way. The Israeli artist — currently floating between France and NYC — has a purring chanteuse appeal. Her set varied tremendously between rockers like "It Ain't No Crime" to the folky reassurance of "Lay Your Head Down." At times, she was so quiet and delicate that someone swallowing in the front row could be heard as she sang "Chelsea Burns" and "Not Going Anywhere."

Though Keren Ann also is adept at playing the guitar and harmonica live, her greatness shines primarily in her sensitive and effective delivery of vocals, making the fans feel like they're witnessing something as intimate as it is special, as if she's letting you in on a personal secret. She gives the instant impression that she very much means the words she sings, which makes them bear a stronger sense of gravity and also means it's impossible to tear away from both her recorded and live performances.