Australian songwriter Toby Beard brought the souls and little bit of blues from Down Under to the Slice, Aug. 4. She and her crack band didn’t have nearly as many people as they deserved, because they played a beautiful set of soulful blues and soul and then some.

She played a battered acoustic guitar and danced and grinned with saxophonist Joel Plymin who was playing sultry sax solos. Her band sang superb vocal harmonies behind her throughout.

 She had a sexy, sultry voice blending Etta James and Serena Ryder but balanced it out by belting it out with restrained power.

 She told a few stories in between her songs about playing with Etta James, then covering her song “I’d Rather Go Blind,” to end her first set. She talked about recording a few tracks on her most recent album with Etta James’ band.

She began her second set by plugging in her ukulele for a reggae tinged highlight “Rumpus Room.”