Elle Varner shines despite technical difficulties at the Howard Theatre

Elle Varner's gig at the Howard Theatre almost fell apart before it got started. Just one song into her set, technical difficulties arose, so the R&B singer had to kill some time. Following a spirited rendition of "Cold Case," the backing instrumental was too faint on "Only Wanna Give It to You" -- a standout from Varner's 2012 album, "Perfectly Imperfect" -- bringing the show to a sudden halt.