By: Randy Snyder
I was able to squeak my way into a full house on President's Day Eve to see the young, talented, rising singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile. I had stumbled across her two months earlier when she was opening for Ray LaMontagne, and was impressed with her powerful, clean voice. In the 400's intimate (read: crowded) atmosphere, I figured this was a can't- miss gig, and Brandi did not disappoint.
Brandi debuted on Columbia Records with her 2005 self-titled release, a CD I have worn out on my car and home stereo. The album came packaged with a sticker naming her an "artist to watch" by Rolling Stone and a few other music rags. She is clearly a very promising singer/songwriter, who simultaneously evokes the sounds of a young Linda Ronstadt in tone and range, Melissa Etheridge in melody and power, and a bit of Lucinda Williams in gravel and melancholy. Big names indeed, and only one solid CD to show, but as I did say: promising.
The show opened with “Follow,” a longing, soulful song of against-the-world searching, struggle and inner-strength, and Brandi nailed it. In her button-up western wear, she appeared as a vulnerable, yet strong brunette cowgirl. Her backing band, however, which consisted of two guitars, a bass and drums, sounded flat and thick due to a poor early mix from the board. The well sung and up-tempo "Fall Apart Again" struck a theme similar to the opener, with a beautiful falsetto mixed in and the killer line: "I think the world of myself...but the world doesn't think much of me."
“Happy,” a wonderful, folky track on the record, sounded rushed and flat live, and steamrolled over the melody and texture of the song. This was the only noticeable misstep in an otherwise solid performance, despite Brandi announcing early in the show that she was feeling "under the weather." She also mixed in several amusing stories about her band mates, and paid homage to Minneapolis as a great and welcoming music town. The festive and mostly twenty-something crowd at the 400 ate up her playfulness and shouted many compliments, and women outnumbered men by nearly two to one.
Midway into the 75-minute show was the song “Downpour," and Brandi proved that it's all about her amazing voice; the background music virtually faded into the black background of the stage. Brandi's cover of Willie Nelson's "Blue Eyes Cryin" brought to mind the voice of Patsy Cline, and showed her back-porch charm. The songs "Closer to You" and "What Can I Say" are spot-on Cities 97 radio hits yet to be discovered, that combine perfect melody with catchy-pop/folk hooks and dual acoustic guitars. Brandi's musical buddy and co-songwriter, Tim Hanserath wrote the latter of the two gems and invoked his own guitar flavor.
In "Throw it All Away," a truly captivating song, Brandi elevated above comparisons to other artists and shone like a light on her own. Toward the end of her set, Brandi leveled the crowd and took us all to church with her version of the classic "Hallelujah," originally by Leonard Cohen and made sublime by Jeff Buckley. Carlile did the song more than justice, as evidenced by the pin-drop quiet in the crowd throughout the spiritual number. Amen, Amen.
With only one 10-track CD to date, it was a bit disappointing that two excellent originals from the record were left off the set list ("Gone" and "Tragedy"). Tim Hanserath, and to a lesser extent bassist Phil Hanserath – who appear to be Brandi's musical soul mates – assisted in the composition of her songs. The overall backing band was serviceable, though with Brandi's voice and talent, they are paid little attention.
For fans of female folk rockers that are looking for some new blood, check out Brandi Carlile when she returns to town March 12 at the Fitzgerald Theater with Jamie Cullum.
Location Info:
400 Bar
Artist Info: Brandi Carlile
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