SLCene Suggests: Mindy Smith at The State Room

MINDY SMITH, THE STATE ROOM, Saturday, 9 p.m., $17

I can’t believe it’s been almost 10 years since Mindy Smith burst onto the roots-music scene, delivering a stellar version of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” on the Parton tribute album Just Because I’m a Woman. In 2004, she released her debut full-length, One Moment More, earning raves for songs like “Come to Jesus.” She came to play Suede at Kimball Junction around that time (with Tift Merritt, if memory serves), and I was totally hooked. Somehow, though, while Smith followed up with three more albums, including a new self-titled set that arrived this summer, I didn’t follow up well as a fan. I chased down her latest, and it reminded me why I fell for Smith’s sound in the first place–that assured voice delivering smart country and folk-tinged tunes should make for a great night at The State Room. Paul Jacobsen opens the show.