EDMONTON -- To think Chantal Kreviazuk used to be such a shy and retiring lass.

Last night, dealing with a cold and a sold-out crowd at the Winspear Centre, the gifted and tightly-wound Winnipeg songstress displayed supreme confidence - in both her captivating, soul-baring music and between-song speeches.

Boy, can she talk. Kreviazuk talked before she ever played a single note.

Approaching the grand piano festooned with candles and followed by her dog - causing a wave of "awww" before being banished to the backstage - she introduced a new song. "I think it's about spooning," she said. "My husband hates the word spoon, so it's a forbidden word in our house, but he likes being spooned, so ..."

Thanks for that. It wasn't long ago that Kreviazuk didn't even want to talk about her husband, Our Lady Peace singer Raine Maida. And now - too much information.

Backed by just a bassist and drummer, the perfect compromise between her solo piano work and the rock-band format that tends to obliterate the magic of her solo piano work, she used the night to showcase new material, rounding it out with old favourites and even a U2 cover.

While a bit giddy, possibly from the Neo-Citran she was guzzling, Kreviazuk was in fine voice, especially on ballads like Wayne, Surrounded and M. These songs kill me every time. When the hair on the back of your neck stands up, you know something's going right.

Of the new tunes, Brenda's Song stood out. It's a beautiful ballad about her cousin who recently passed away. Others, like the funky Miss April - about a "dumb bimbo" who goes to Hollywood - didn't seem as strong, but maybe the upcoming album will prove their worth.

Later on, she dedicated a new song to exploited aquatic mammals and gave a long speech in which she rightly condemned the West Edmonton Mall dolphin tank. She pulled no punches here. "It's disgusting," she said.

There were only a few gasps from the crowd.

Let's hope her new album will be as strong as her opinions.

Opening act Jorane was interesting.

Imagine a French Jane Siberry with a cello. Maybe a French Alanis Morissette with a cello. Come up with your own comparison and make sure you add "with a cello." The Montreal singer and cellist (have I mentioned the cello?) opened by singing a weird dirge in a language she made up. "I like the idea of using the human voice as an instrument," she explained.

She was soon joined by her guitarist Simon, sang some songs in French, sat cross-legged on the floor to sing a song in English - sample lyric: "I like the smell of gasoline/you think it's a dream" - and ended with a blues number.

The crowd didn't quite know what to make of Jorane, but they gave her a warm hand all the same.

She later joined the headliner for a version of Leavin' On a Jet Plane.

"I would normally say sing along with this, but please don't," Kreviazuk warned the crowd. "I'm serious."

Nary a peep was heard. No one dared.

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