Brandi Carlile on the Cayamo Cruise

Genevieve and I didn’t know much about Brandi Carlile the night we went to her event. Before the show we sat next to two fans, Alison and Christie, who have been following her career for years. They said that we were in for an amazing evening.

When the lights came down, a small, sturdy girl with a spirit like Jodie Foster came out with her guitar. First I thought, there’s a bonny lass. Then I thought, what a tough cookie. Both apply. I was overwhelmed with the power of her voice, which seemed to exist somewhere out in the realm of k.d. lang meets Roy Orbison with a dash of Bonnie Raitt. She seemed to be such a small person to fill the hall, kind of like Edith Piaf or Judy Garland - great power and straightforward sincerity. She was slight, and wore jeans and a white blouse with a trim little vest and purple sneakers. She was accompanied by a fellow named Josh Neuman on cello. She voiced her regrets that “the twins”, who usually make up the rest of her band, weren’t able to be there.

She sang many of her own compositions as well as other tunes; “Cannonball”, ”The Story”, “Have You Ever?”, “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” by Bob Dylan, a ferocious, rockin’  “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash, a song about her friend from high school who committed suicide entitled, “That Year”, a song she wrote for her parents called “Downpour”; and more.

During one song early on, I saw a little Elvis sneer flicker across her face and then later she said that she once had a job as a backup singer for an Elvis impersonator  She sat down at the piano and sang most of the beginning of “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen which was very humorous. She mentioned her love of country music and recited some lines I didn’t know and then performed a song that she wrote that included all the country music clichés she could think of. I was expecting a parody but it was actually really beautiful. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the name! But one thing I want to say is that she could make a howling sound with her voice, and she had that little catch like a yodel which both Sarah McLaughlin and Joni Mitchell have. Someday I’d like to hear her sing, “I’m so lonesome I could cry” by Hank Williams.

She said she’d been touring with Shawn Colvin who taught her a lot about how to tour and do sets and communicate with the audience. She was able to share humorous anecdotes and details in an unaffected way. Shawn came out and joined her for a stunning rendition of Jane Siberry’s “Calling All Angels”.

One of the most moving parts of the show was her last song, Leonard Cohen’s, “Hallelujah”, very much in the spirit and power of Jeff Buckley. Her face was filled with a kind of spiritual ecstasy and I was trembling with chills.

In her bio she said that growing up and being isolated way out in the country in Washington State gave her an opportunity to really embrace music and practice singing. (Hmm, isolation out in the country reminds me of a group of teenagers I know real well.) In fact, she was able to focus on it so much that she stated she’s never had a “real” job, it’s been music all the way.

For a girl in her 20s she’s off to a good start. One night on the cruise she came out to sing backup for Patty Griffin on the song, “Mary”, with Emmy Lou Harris and Buddy Miller. It was so beautiful to see this young-un out there next to Emmy Lou, who put a motherly arm around her at the end of the song. I was glad she was well taken care of by her musical peers and elders. I wish her every blessing.