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Concert Review: Brandi Carlile

Brandi Carlile's music defies any category.

At times she rocks out like Melissa Etheridge. At other times there's a touch of country, of Bonnie Raitt or Emmylou Harris. She's recorded with the Indigo Girls.

What she is, is a refreshing breath of fresh air in today's music scene, and her show last night at the House of Blues, nearly three hours of live music (including the opening act, "A Fine Frenzy", was a welcome distraction from the constant reminder that I should have been at Wrigley Field last night watching game two of the NLCS between the Rockies and Cubs... well, never mind. We cannot lament what simply did not happen this season.

A few words about the House of Blues; last night was the first time I'd ever been there. It has quickly become one of my favorite concert venues. It's all standing room, except for a few barstools on either side of the standing area, and also in the multiple balconies. Despite that, it seems and feels spacious; the very high ceiling makes the acoustics nearly perfect and the sightlines excellent. Security is omnipresent but not oppressive; I found the staff both attentive and friendly. I'd highly recommend the HOB for any show you'd like to see.

Carlile (who, keeping this Cub-related, was born on the same day as Carlos Zambrano, June 1, 1981),  first came to prominence last spring when several of her songs (notably, "Turpentine") were featured on the ABC prime-time show "Grey's Anatomy". She's equally at home with a song like that, or the harder-rocking "My Song", which started the set, or a cover of Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison". She also did covers of Elton John's "Madman Across The Water" and Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", demonstrating her range, and when introducing Cash's song she said, "You don't mind if we go a little country on you?", and then briefly launched into a phrase or two of Tammy Wynette's "Sometimes It's Hard To Be A Woman", to laughter, before starting the Cash song. She also did an "acoustic set" which at one point got completely acoustic -- the entire band gathered at the front of the stage, in front of the mikes, and sang and played without electronic accompaniment. The crowd (mostly) hushed, and the size of the venue made it easy to hear the song.

The opening act, A Fine Frenzy, is a trio headed by 22-year-old Alison Sudol, a tall woman with fire-engine red hair and a big voice, who kept apologizing for extending her set (she kept saying she hoped they'd ask her back after playing so many songs). The extended opening set (45 minutes long) was worth it; A Fine Frenzy was featured on iTunes a month or so ago with their single "You Picked Me" chosen as iTunes' free "Single of the Week".

With the price of major arena concerts by bigtime bands approaching the stratosphere, it was refreshing to see a show of this length by two talents who I think are going to make a significant impact on the music scene in the next few years -- and pay only $20. Their tour continues in the US for another few weeks, before heading to Australia and the UK. (The Australia dates aren't in that link but they're in November.) If Brandi comes to your town go see her show. (And no, I wasn't the oldest person in the venue, either.)

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Never thought I'd see a Brandi review here
but glad I did. I don't normally fall over myself for musicians but Brandi Carlie is amazing.

I heard "The Story" on a sample CD from Paste magazine a few months ago was hooked.

She is definitely all over the continuum between Joan Jett and Nanci Griffith.  I was glad to have found here music and glad for you as well.

I have no response to that.

by stelmodad on Oct 13, 2007 10:45 AM CDT   0 recs

Never heard of her
But I must say it takes a lot of chutzpah to cover Bohemian Rhapsody.
Why does everybody stand up and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" when they're already there? ~Larry Anderson

by JohnM on Oct 13, 2007 11:46 AM CDT   0 recs

Awesome
Brandi Carlile is just amazing. HOB is a great venue for her!
"I'm a Cubs fan. I'm very, very patient." -- from a Shoe cartoon.

by No Southern Belle on Oct 13, 2007 11:51 AM CDT   0 recs

we agree!!
well al, at least we agree on something.

Brandi Carlile is great - I saw her open up for the Indigo Girls this summer and it was a great show.

I wish I would have been there last night...

by big_lowitzki on Oct 13, 2007 12:23 PM CDT   0 recs

I also went to a concert
With the Cubs eliminated, I was able to regain part of my social life. My evening was a little different from yours. Okay, very different. I saw the Mekons. They originally formed as a punk band, in Leeds, England. They are on their 30th anniversary tour. Friday night, they did their Chicago "tour".

They played an early show, at The Hideout. It's a small friendly club, on Wabansia, near North and Elston. The audience, and band, then took CTA buses to the late show at The Mutiny. It's a small "dive" bar on Western, near Fullerton. Yes, we all boarded the #72 North Avenue bus to Western. We then changed buses, and boarded the #49 Western Ave bus to Fullerton.

I could not believe how well the trip went. The CTA had an empty articulated "tour" bus, waiting for us, on North Avenue. At Western Avenue there happened to be two, in service, buses waiting at the traffic light. The other passengers on board were a little confused as to what was going on, when we all boarded. Tim Tuten, one of the co-owners of The Hideout, acted as our tour guide. He's a former teacher, who still loves to educate. We learned that he was recently able to confirm, with Chicago photographer Art Shay, that Nelson Algren used to drink at The Hideout.

Both shows were great. Not many "punk" bands have a violinist and accordian player. Their music now spans many type of music. They play rock, pop, country, folk and throw in some spoken word performances. (I've seen them do an awesome cover of "Folson Prison.") They have four vocalists, one female, who rotate on lead vocal duties. It was a very strange, but wonderful evening. I still wish that I could be watching a Cubs game though.

by holy mackerel on Oct 13, 2007 2:39 PM CDT   0 recs

It Was Also A Fundraiser
I forgot to mention that the proceeds from The Hideout show went to Doctors Without Borders. They were also selling "Chicago Bus Tour" posters, with the proceeds also going to them. There was no cover at The Mutiny show.

by holy mackerel on Oct 13, 2007 2:50 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

House of Blues blues
I went to a show at HoB a couple of years ago (Jon Anderson, the former Yes vocalist) and was not real crazy about the venue.  My main gripe was people standing around the bar, smoking, and talking during the performance.  I didn't understand why they were even there.

by ChipSet on Oct 13, 2007 2:41 PM CDT   0 recs

I'd agree with that.
FWIW, HoB is now completely non-smoking (yet another reason it was pleasant to be there last night).
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Oct 13, 2007 3:21 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

And when they have a No Talking
section it'll be a great place to hear music.

by ChipSet on Oct 16, 2007 9:13 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Concert Schmoncert!
I'm bored.

I asked my twenty something if he'd heard of Brandi Carlile and he looked at me like I had three heads.  I thought that if he had a CD that I'd give it a listen.

I'm trying to get interested in college football.  

I thought I'd get a little excited about the Ilini but their world came crashing back to reality in Iowa City today.

As I switched channels I find Ole Miss actually ahead of the evil Crimson Tide only to watch reality bite the boys from Oxford right in the cheeks.

I'm a die-hard ND fan but this year is excruciatingly painful for us Irish boosters but, what's this?  OMG, they just scored another touchdown.  Is it possible they could beat BC?  Is hope truly alive?

I want the Cubs.  Where are they when I need them the most?  

When does the hot-stove league actually begin?  When does spring training start?

Go Irish.  Please.

Oh despair.

And so it goes.

by Luigi on Oct 13, 2007 5:16 PM CDT   0 recs

A Fine Frenzy
I've had "One Cell In The Sea" for a few months now, and I really like it. And if anyone likes Billie and Ella, I suggest Chrisette Michele.

by Cub Fan in Card Country on Oct 14, 2007 12:42 AM CDT   0 recs

If you really like Billie I suggest
Madeleine Peyroux.  Although she apes Billie's sound so much it almost becomes a case of wondering what the hell the point is.

by TR on Oct 14, 2007 1:41 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Billie
I love Billie. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll check her out.

by Cub Fan in Card Country on Oct 14, 2007 4:28 AM CDT   0 recs

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