In homemade pipe cleaner tiaras and a cowboy hat with a toy praying mantis glued on, New York indie rocker k. cast a hypnotic spell over a small crowd Friday night at the Espresso Metro in downtown Sacramento.

Opening for k. was Sarah Dougher. Her sound was one of raw beauty and talent, teeming with a sense of anguish. Most of her songs carried a message or story that was heartfelt, but sometimes had a slightly annoying wailing quality.

Dougher is not your ordinary singer on the road. She is a writer, a teacher and a social activist. She is also a band member in The Crabs and Cadallaca.

A little after 10 p.m., k., along with bassist Matt Sutton and drummer Ruth Keating, began her set with a short but poignant song that set the mood. The beer-guzzling crowd became quiet and still as the band’s melodic tune and Karla Schickele’s husky voice swept across the room.

k. wowed the audience with no less than half a dozen instruments played between them, ranging from your typical guitar and drums to an autoharp and a glockenspiel.

In the end the only disappointment about k.’s performance may have been how soon it was over. Even after playing an encore song that audience members shamelessly begged for, her set lasted less than 40 minutes.

To learn more about k.’s upcoming tour dates and albums check out www.tigerstylerecords.com.