Mint & the Freshness is a new local band getting a lot of attention for their lead singer Mint. She is like a breath of fresh air on the San Diego music scene. While playing a charity show for the First Friday Music Club at Winston's in Ocean Beach, all eyes were on the lace-and-sequin-clad female singer. Mint knew how to expertly straddle a chair in a mini-skirt. The glitter Mint glues on her outfits shakes off as she sings and dances and makes for an ethereal effect in the spotlight.

The Winston's gig was an effort to raise money for school music programs. Mint's pals crowded the Bacon Street club and showed their support for the provocative, come-hither single mom.

The trio backing Mint, the Freshness, though musically adept, lacked vigor. Together for a little over a year, the band incorporates R&B, jazz, and swing, with some pop influences. Mint began the show with "Soul Surfer," a self-penned ode to "honest relations," as she told me later. The contagious "Good Life" got some action going on the dance floor. An evocative cover of ’50s hit "Someone to Believe In" brought out the best in Mint's bluesy voice and the band's finest accompaniment.

Concert: Mint & the Freshness

Date: February 2

Venue: Winston's, Ocean Beach

Seats: bar area