Well, well, well. I’ve seen Brandi Carlile perform twice now, and she’s hit a towering home run both times. Out of the galaxy. No questions asked, except: Is Ms. Carlile from another planet?
There isn’t much she can’t do. Her performance in Denver at the Paramount had a little bit of everything going for it — there were solo performances (“That Year”), rockers (“Looking Out,” “The Story”), acoustic ballads with the band (“I Will”), surprise guests (a duet with Gregory Alan Isakov — Bob Dylan’s “You Belong To Me”), another Dylan cover (“The Times They Are A-Changin'”), two Johnny Cash tunes (“Jackson,” “Folsom Prison Blues”), a crowd sing-a-long (“Turpentine”), and a literally unplugged bombshell (“Dying Day”). Yes, this all happened in one show.
Here’s a taste of the unplugged greatness that I took with my camera:
Cool, right? The total confidence and energy Carlile creates on stage is that of a grizzly veteran. She is 28. Go figure.
As if she just had to amaze more, Carlile strapped on her electric for “The Story,” and gave us this:
Still not satisfied? How about the show closer, “Pride and Joy?”
Sprint, don’t walk, to see Brandi Carlile the next time she hits your town.
2010 Tour Dates:
January 19, Slowdown, Omaha, Nebraska
January 20, Hoyt Sherman, Des Moines, Iowa
January 21, Pabst, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
January 22, Bomhard Theatre, Louisville, Kentucky
January 23, Intersection, Grand Rapids, Michigan
January 25, Mr Smalls, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
January 26, The State Theater, State College, Pennsylvania
January 28, The Westcott Theater, Syracuse, New York
January 29, Higher Ground, Burlington, Vermont
January 30, Colonial Theatre, Keene, New Hampshire
January 31, Music Hall, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
February 3, Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield, Connecticut
February 4, Hart Theatre at the Egg, Albany, New York
February 5, Pollak Theatre, West Long Branch, New Jersey
February 6, Wellmont Theatre, Montclair, New Jersey
February 9, Orange Peel, Asheville, North Carolina
February 10, Bijou Theatre, Knoxville, Tennessee
February 11, Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, North Carolina
February 15, McGlohon Theater, Charlotte, North Carolina
February 16, James K. Polk Theater, Nashville, Tennessee
February 17, Melting Point, Athens, Georgia
February 18, Capitol Theatre, Clearwater, Florida
February 20, Culture Room, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
February 21-26, Cayamo Cruise, Miami, Florida
February 27, House of Blues, Orlando, Florida (w/ The Indigo Girls)
March 1, The Moon, Tallahassee, Florida (w/The Indigo Girls)
March 2, Al Saenger Theatre, Mobile, Alabama (w/ The Indigo Girls)
March 4, House of Blues, New Orleans, Louisiana
March 5, Cypress Blues Casino, Charenton, Louisiana
March 6, Hogg Memorial Auditorium, Austin, Texas
March 7, House of Blues, Dallas, Texas
March 8, Floore’s Country Store, Helotes, Texas
March 11, House of Blues, San Diego, California
March 12, House of Blues, Anaheim, California
March 13, Mystic Theatre, Petaluma, Californina
March 15, Knitting Factory, Reno, Nevada
March 17, Tower Theatre, Bend, Oregon
March 18, Tower Theatre, Bend, Oregon
March 19, Mount Baker Theatre, Bellingham, Washington