Rachael Yamagata at Johnny Brenda's

For those of you who were lucky enough to catch Rachael Yamagata last year during her three nights of residency shows at Johnny Brenda's, you probably already have your tickets for tomorrow night. And for those of you who have only heard Rachael's gorgeous voice on CD or on the radio, find a way to beg, borrow or steal yourself a ticket to her sold out Johnny Brenda's show to see her perform live. It's a moral imperative.

She is currently touring doing an album preview tour for her long awaited 2 CD release called Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Heart, which will be released on October 7, 2008. Rachael says, "I didn’t set out to make a two part album. We just followed the songs' lyrical lead and built them up with textures and sounds that served the story. The beautiful ones were darker and worked with lush arrangements. We used the sounds of rain, tree branches falling on the roof—whatever kept the mood true to this haunted studio in the first stormy days of spring. The second part became more anthemic, like a reclaiming of personal power. There’s something raw about it. To me it sounds weathered, but not broken or cynical."

Until you get to see her live, check out her new single Elephants and be reminded of just how wonderful her music is. (That video was shot at California's Salton Sea, a setting which perfectly matches the beautifully haunting quality of Rachael's vocals and lyrics.)

And Rachael turns 30 years old today, so make sure you say happy birthday to her tomorrow night at the show!

Rachael Yamagata with Kevin Devine
Johnny Brenda's (Frankford and Girard Avenues in Northern Liberties)
Wednesday, September 24
9:00 p.m.
SOLD OUT

Rachael will also be the guest on XPN's Free at Noon concert series this Friday.

Image Credit: Flickr user Janet Dancer