Most people just describe Brooklyn's Sydney Wayser as indie or
indie-pop.  That mainly tells you what she doesn't sound like
(mainstream music).  So I'll try to describe her music for you. 
Sydney's main instrument is piano and her band consists of electric
guitar, upright bass, drums and toys (toy piano, toy xylophone and some
others).  Her songs combine elements of classical, show music, rock and
chanson française (Sydney's father is French and she spent some time in
Paris growing up).  But the most impressive instrument in Sydney's band
is her voice.  Extremely expressive and perhaps a touch breathy, it is
the hook that ultimately pulls you into her music.

Sydney's been on my radar for a while now, so I made it over to The
Living Room a while back to see her roll out the songs from her new
album, "The Colorful."  Among the standouts played before the
appreciative crowd  were "La Di Da," "Bells," and a rousing version
"Drive In Not Drive Through" (which sounds like it should have the
title 1953).

Sydney Wayser, City Winery, 155 Varick Street (between Spring and
Vandam Streets), 1 Train to Houston Street or Canal Street; C or E
Trains to Spring Street, 8pm, $10.

 –Eliot Wagner