Phillyist Reviews... Brandi Carlile

It's official. Brandi Carlile has played World Cafe Live more than any other artist out there. Quite a feat for an artist who only has two records. After five times at World Cafe Live and multiple performances at other venues in Philadelphia, Carlile has gained enough fans to not only sell-out World Cafe Live but do it with standing room only. It was packed. It was the biggest crowd I have seen at World Cafe Live. At the end of her concerts Carlile said, "It's great to be back in Philly. We've done so many opening shows here and to finally headline here - it's just awesome. To sell out a show here tells us that what we [the band] are doing is working. Thank you for that!" My response back: "Keep doing what you are doing, it's working. It's working great."

Carlile's voice is simply raw and amazing. The way she transfers from her chest voice to head voice is seamless. It's almost if she yodels through it. This unique quality gives Carlile the edge that so many singer/songwriters want and need. Whether she is singing a folk song or rock song, Carlile manipulates her voice to get the correct styling and intensity without it ever feeling overdone or obnoxious. She never misses a note. Ever. The low guttural sounds vs. the sweet head voice creates a unique voice especially when compared to the masses.

A highlight of the night was the powerful ballad/rock song, "My Story," which is Carlile's new single. She added power to this song that can easily be missed in a recording studio. The band was just ON. Carlile, with the twin Hanseroth brothers (of Seattle band The Fighting Machinists), acted as if they had been doing this since they were born. It was great watching the Hanseroth brothers even though it seemed like you had double-vision. It was uncanny how much they looked each other. Gibb Droll performed with Carlile throughout the night as a guest guitarist. Apparently he was Carlile's opening act at an earlier leg of the tour. He added such a great energy to her songs, especially with his wicked guitar solo on Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues." We all sat there in awe, even Carlile.

My favorite addition to Carlile's band was the cello player, Josh Neumann. When he played the solo at the beginning of the first encore, "What Can I Say," I just knew it was going to be my favorite song of the night. Earlier in the evening, Cary Brothers opened for Carlile. He also had a cello backing him up on the guitar and vocals. It worked for him and worked for Carlile. "What Can I Say" became the best vocal audience sing-along I have ever heard. The audience was singing in harmony and doing a pretty damn good job of it. Carlile said it was the best she had ever heard.

One thing I noticed was Carlile's fans are hardcore. They love her and Carlile sincerely appreciates that. After the concert she was humble enough to talk to the fans that stood in line to get the coveted signed, vinyl-edition of her new album, My Story. I heard she was very gracious, a trait that many pop/rock stars are lacking today.

The highlight of her concert was the soulful, honest, solo performance of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah!" It just doesn't get any better than that. So yes, continue what you are doing Carlile. It works. It works great.

By the way, her boots kicked ass.