No, I'm not talking about Katy Perry. This is Nancy Perry: take Norah Jones' warm, lonesome vocal chords, add a subtle vibrato, and a mellow acoustic-guitar vibe. Watching Perry perform her set Friday at Muddy Waters Coffehouse, I sort of felt the way all music obsessors feel when they hear raw, unfettered vocal talent: euphoric.
No matter how many live, throbbing, in-your-face shows you see and love throughout the year, nothing beats setting up camp at a coffee house, feet propped up on the seat in front of you, with a jazzy chanteuse voice swimming through the mic.

Legs crossed, sitting in the corner of the half-lit room, Perry played with refined and subtly, and with a simple confidence. She dished out covers throughout the night for the intimate but enthusiastic crowd. It hurt the soul a little to watch an alluring and elegant voice take on pop stars the likes of Kelly Clarkson and Avril Lavigne. But in her defense, Perry did make the disclaimer, "I'm not an Avril fan. I just kind of like this song." The set was brought back to life when Perry found her niche in the more laid-back, folksie/pop tunes of Donna the Buffalo, Ingrid Michaelson, Bob Dylan, and Adele -- her voice fell into the fabric of the songs and rested beautifully.

The not-so-shy Perry had a quirky wit about her. If you're one of those guys (or ladies) that needs a little help in the "what not to say to a woman" department, you missed the chance to stash the answer away in your lonely pockets. Perry's advice (told through a song by funny folk legend John Prine): never casually say to your girl, "That dress you wear reminds me of my old girlfriend."

Most memorably, Perry tackled Norah Jones' "Don't Know Why" just as the evening was coming to a close. Although normally played on the keys, the song transitioned to guitar nicely -- it's a piece that mixes seductively with any sodden atmosphere. The song was wading through my ears for the rest of the evening. It looks like Perry's performances are far and few, so catch her while you can.

-- BY ALYSA STRYKER