Watching Meredith DiMenna perform onstage with Broken Champion reminds you that rock ’n’ roll doesn’t have to be “authentic” to be great. DiMenna moved to Nashville in 2016 after creating a cabaret-style tribute to ’60s folk-rock singer Judy Henske, Queen of the Beatniks: The Songs of Judy Henske, which she expertly brought to life in venues in and around the New York City area. DiMenna formed Broken Champion in 2017 with guitarist Emil Halas, whose understated playing powers their theatrical — but very rocking — live shows. DiMenna & Co. take “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” away from Bob Seger and do justice to Henske and Jerry Yester’s 1969 psych-folk tune “Snowblind,” and their own songs are ace. They’re reportedly working in Nashville on a full-length, which promises to feature their original material.
Best Cabaret Band
