Just when Kesha's career seemed destined to remain forever at a standstill thanks to ongoing legal battles with producer Dr. Luke as well as Sony, the singer-songwriter performed an intimate secret show in Nashville over the holidays. With her new backing band, Yeast Infection, she powered through psyche-rock renditions of her hits "Blow" and "Timber."
While the singer is used to selling-out huge arenas and typically graces the marquees of huge charity events, last week's crowd at Nashville's Springwater Lounge was only about a few hundred fans deep. As Billboard reports, the club's website calendar did not list the show (it said it was "closed"), but the artist did post a photo of herself with Yeast Infection in front of the venue, simply stating "21+" on her Instagram the afternoon of the show.
After the show, the star shared a brief video of the performance in which she simultaneously channels Janis Joplin and Courtney Love as she dons glitter and an over-sized Beavis and Butthead tee-shirt and howls through stripped-down versions of "Blow and "Timber." As E! reports, Kesha and Yeast Infection's Springwater Lounge set list also included a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love."
In the Facebook post, she thanks her fans, lovingly referred to as Animals, for their support and reassures all that her career is far from over: "Don't worry NO ONE will ever shut me up." Watch the video below, but be warned: she throws a few nearly inaudible expletives in there.
HAPPY HOLLERDAYZ from Y E A S T I N F E C T I O N!!! I love all of my ANIMALS!!! Thanks for all of the support this year!!!....Don't worry NO ONE will ever shut me up.
Posted by Kesha on Friday, December 25, 2015
The footage of the surprise performance is especially exciting considering Kesha has been barred from touring, recording and marketing merchandise as a result of her year-long legal battles with Dr. Luke and Sony. In fact, the performance is pretty empowering when you consider what the singer has been through and how she has been publicly facing the potential end of her career all because she stood up for herself.
For those who haven't been following her legal woes, the singer filed a lawsuit of sexual, physical and mental abuse against producer and longtime collaborator Dr. Luke, who then counter-sued for defamation and breach of contract. The singer then expanded her lawsuit to include Sony, claiming her label was helping to cover up the producer's abuse.
This past September, the singer wrote letters to Sony pleading they permit her to work with any other labels under their umbrella, to which the brand responded with legal documents citing other artists who took long breaks yet still found success. Basically, she's been at a legal impasse while the proceedings continue.
Fans can only hope Kesha continues to find ways around the legal restrictions to make music and perform. This brief clip of her performance with Yeast Infection certainly helps conclude 2015 on a high note for her Animals.
