I had the opportunity to watch Brandi Carlile perform live Thursday night at the Calvin Theater in beautiful downtown Northampton, Massachusetts. She and the band are out promoting their new album, Give Up The Ghost, scheduled to be released by Columbia Records on October 6th. It was a real privilege to have her here in the Pioneer Valley as she is mainly playing larger venues on this brief one month tour. The Calvin is a historical landmark and a fabulous place to see a show. There's just not a bad seat in the house. The layout and design of this restored theater creates a relaxed and comfortable setting that makes you want to sink into your chair for the evening and be entertained... not to mention the phenomenal acoustics the building carries as well.
I am a huge fan of Brandi Carlile so I suppose that makes this article just a little biased... Oh well...so be it then. I have followed Brandi Carlile and her musical collaborators, Tim and Phil Hanseroth (The Twins) since the release of her first, self-titled album, Brandi Carlile, in 2006. I saw her last performance at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, Massachusetts back in 2007 while Brandi and the band were touring for her sophomore album, The Story. Let me just tell you that it is a real treat to watch Brandi Carlile perform live. She has a presence that engages and captivates you from the moment she walks on to the stage. Besides having an incredibly, amazing voice, there is an emotional rawness ... a sincerity in her way that cuts quick to the bone leaving you feeling vulnerable, but wanting more. Her words wound and heal as she sings about love, loss, acceptance, an moving on. She definitely has a style and grace of all her own, and watching her gives you the impression that she is a wise, old soul dressed in blue jeans and a t-shirt.
Thursday's show was awesome! Newcomer, Katie Herzig who open for the band, gave an excellent performance and seemed a suitable choice for Brandi fans. Brandi and the band came out unplugged and right on key singing an acoustic version of Oh Dear. From there they went electric and broke into Looking Out sounding full, balanced, together, and better than ever. The crowd loved it !Musical arrangements were well thought out and organized with just the right mix of old and new songs, upbeat rock tunes, and softer ballads. Still, more so, it was the intimacy between Brandi, the band, and audience that really captured the essence of the evening.
Brandi gave insight to her music by telling stories about childhood friends, musical influences and experiences, and personal tragedies. A lot of songs were stripped down in typical Brandi style and sang acoustically. My favorite of the night, I Will. The harmonies between Brandi and the band were incredible. Dying Day in particular, stood out. As always seems to be the case while out enjoying yourself and having fun, the night seems to end too soon and no one wants to go home. Brandi ended the show with a spectacular rendition of Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Blues that made more than a few of us want to reach out for hand cuffs. As the show ended it was blatantly apparent how much Brandi and the Twins have grown together as musicians and as individuals. In just four short years, they have emerged as well seasoned musicians without having compromised any of the musical integrity and creativity that makes them who they are.
I can't wait to give the new album a listen. Be sure to check back for the latest information and reviews or visit Brandi Carlile's website at www.brandicarlile.com.
Check out the videos below. For those of you who have never seen Brandi perform, these videos paint a pretty clear picture of what it's like to watch her live. Some of the sound and quality here aren't the best, but they're still fun to watch.
Written By : Jessica Layne
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