W♥M

At the Varsity: Rachael Yamagata, Los Amigos Invisibles, Courtney Jaye, and Haerts

Read More Rachael Yamagata With her latest ep, ’Heavyweight’, Rachael Yamagata compares the rollercoaster ride of romance to a boxing match, and she brought the ‘fight’ Monday to the lush surroundings of Minneapolis’ Varsity Theater for a dark ..…

As I have previously stated, the Varsity Theater in Dinky Town is one of the best venue in town. By far, the prettiest, mostly thanks to their side (or main) business of wedding receptions on the weekend.

Below are some shows coming to the Varsity.

RACHAEL YAMAGATA
rachaelyamagata.com

The last time I saw Rachael Yamagata, she had taken a long four year break from touring and she said on stage that this was the thing she love doing: meeting her fans in various cities. This is evident by the news of her selling out all her shows in Asia (Seoul, Bangkok, and Singapore).

I missed her last November (because I don't go out to shows in the winter), but we did have someone cover the show for us.

John described last year's show was on the more intimate side: "This tour was billed as more intimate, and with a smaller capacity, sparse lighting, and a completely seated crowd, gave a more personal invitation into her world that demanded your attention."

Yamagata's Heavyweight EP is out now, but look for her 'covers' EP to be recorded and release soon. In the meantime, as she promised, she will be back on the road in North America for her "Dealbreaker Heart" Spring and Summer tour.

05/28 - Ithaca, NY - Haunt 06/01 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall 06/03 - Montreal, OQ - La Sala Rossa 06/04 - Toronto, ON - Virgin Mobile 06/07 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall 06/09 - Milwaukee, WI - Shank Hall 06/10 - Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon 06/11 - Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater 06/13 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater 06/14 - Salt Lake City, UT - State Room 06/15 - Boise, ID - TBD 06/17 - Vancouver, BC - Electric Owl 06/18 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ball Room 06/19 - Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern

06/22 - San Francisco, CA - Great American 06/23 - Santa Barbara, CA - Soho Restaurant 06/25 - West Hollywood, CA - Troubadour 06/26 - Santa Ana, CA - Constellation Room 06/27 - San Diego, CA - House Of Blues 06/30 - Austin, TX - The Parish 07/01 - Dallas, TX - Sons of Hermann 07/02 - Houston, TX - Fitzgerald's 07/05 - Atlanta, GA - Vinyl 07/06 - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 07/08 - Alexandria, VA - Birchmire 07/09 - Annapolis, MD - Rams Head 07/11 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer 07/12 - Hoboken, NY - Maxwell's 07/13 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom

LOS AMIGOS INVISIBLES
amigosinvisibles.com

Los Amigos Invisibles (the invisible friends) will be stopping by the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis on April 15th, as part of their tour in support of their seventh studio album Repeat After Me (Nacional - out now).

The Grammy nominated band first got their big break when David Byrne (Talking Heads) signed them to his label Luaka Bop. Since then Los Amigos Invisibles has been developing their music style they call "gozadera", which is a fusion of Latin rhythms with funk, lounge, and disco!

Check them out on tour now:

04/12 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr Small's
04/13 - Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
04/15 - Minneapolis, MN @ The Varsity Theater
04/17 - Denver, CO @ The Bluebird Theater
04/19 - Seattle, WA @ Neumo's
04/20 - Portland, OR @ Star Theater
04/21 - Vancouver, BC @ The Vogue Theater
04/24 - San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
04/26 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda
04/27 - San Diego, CA @ House of Blues

COURTNEY JAYE
www.courtneyjaye.com

Nashville's Courtney Jaye is currently in the middle of her tour, opening up for funnyman Stephen Lynch. Her upcoming album, Love and Forgiveness, is a "rootsy" album, to be out on May 7th. In the meantime, you can pick up her free Noisetrade EP via American Songwriter.

All dates below are with Stephen Lynch, except for where indicated. Her Minneapolis appearance at the Varsity Theater is sold-out.

04/12 Fillmore Detroit - Detroit MI
04/13 Harrahs North - Kansas City MO
04/14 Varsity Theater - Mpls MN
04/27 Talking Stick Resort - Scotsdale AZ
05/02 The Egg - Albany NY
05/03 Gramercy Theater - New York NY
05/04 Gramercy Theater - New York NY
05/05 Gramercy Theater - New York NY
05/7-8-9 Grimey’s - Nashville (Courtney Jaye show)
05/10 Record Release Show - Stone Fox Nashville (Courtney Jaye show)
05/17 Sherman Theater - Stroudsburg PA

HAERTS
haertsmusic.com

Haerts is a "New York" band featuring members from Germany, England, and the U.S. Their first single, "Wings", was produced by St Lucia, and the official music video just premiered on Gorilla vs Bear.

While "Wings" is out as of April 9th via Neon Gold / Columbia Records on vinyl, the band is already hard at work on their debut album, coming sometime this year.

Haerts also announced that they will be supporting Shout Out Louds on their North American tour. All dates below are with Shout Out Louds:

Tue 5/7: Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
Wed 5/8: Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
Fri 5/10: New York, NY @ Webster Hall
Sat 5/11: Columbia, MD @ Sweetlife Festival
Mon 5/13: Montreal, CAN @ La Sala Rossa
Tue 5/14: Toronto, CAN @ The Opera House
Wed 5/15: Detroit, MI @ The Magic Bag
Fri 5/17: Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
Mon 5/20: Vancouver, CAN @ Commodore Ballroom
Tue 5/21: Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater
Wed 5/22: San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
Thu 5/23: Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey
Fri 5/24: Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ +W♥M

Rachael Yamagata at Varsity Theater, Minneapolis (11/26/12)

Tour Dates 11/27 - City Winery - Chicago, IL SOLD OUT 11/28 - Radio Radio - Indianapolis, IN 11/30 - Mr. Small's Theatre - Pittsburgh, PA 12/01 - Virgin Mobile Mod Club - Toronto, ON 12/03 - La Sala Rossa - Montreal, QC 12/04 - Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA 12/05 - Joe's Pub - New York, NY 12/07 - First Unitarian Church - Philadelphia, PA 12/08 - The Night Cat - Easton, MD 12/09 - U Street Music Hall - Waasshington , DC 12/10 - Local 506 - Chapel Hill, NC 12/12 - Vinyl - Atlanta, GA 12/13 - The Bottletree - Birmingham, AL 12/14 - 3rd & Lindsley - Nashville, TN Read More Rachael Yamagata The last time I caught Rachael Yamagata, she was waxing nostalgia about the "twelve years" (exaggerated) since she's been gone ...

   With her latest ep, ’Heavyweight’, Rachael Yamagata compares the rollercoaster ride of romance to a boxing match, and she brought the ‘fight’ Monday to the lush surroundings of Minneapolis’ Varsity Theater for a dark, delicate, and ultimately cathartic 90 min. performance.

   This tour was billed as more intimate, and with a smaller capacity, sparse lighting, and a completely seated crowd, gave a more personal invitation into her world that demanded your attention.

   Yamagata’s band included a small string section (The Duhks’ Tania Elizabeth and cellist Ben Kalb), two guitarists (including Americana opening act Ed Romanoff who covered both Patsy Cline and Rachael in his set), and a one-man rhythm section who handled both bass and drums.

Rachael Yamagata

   Her self-depreciating storytelling lifted the veil on what might be considered a lot of depressing songs- “All of my humor injected between songs is purely... just to make sure you don’t kill yourself”, she joked.

   With previous opener/bandmate Adrien Reju no longer on the tour, the setlist was slightly altered to fit the remaining lineup, but the ensemble remained tight with sweeping strings and gentle piano framing most songs. Ann Klein’s guitar emoted like a dark drive down a lonely highway and Romanoff took up the Ray LaMontagne part during ‘Duet’. The new songs held up well live, particularly ‘Has it Happened Yet’ which worked into a mid-set crescendo.

   Only missing were any covers, to tease her upcoming ‘Covers ep’ (Feb) - 10CC’s “I’m Not in Love” was on the setlist, but not played. Something to look forward to, the next time Yamagata is in town.

Rachael Yamagata at Varsity Theater, Minneapolis (11/26/12)

john ♥ rachaelyamagata.com

Rachael Yamagata 2012 Fall Tour

Read More Rachael Yamagata The clock ticked to 11:11pm and Rachael Yamagata breathed a sigh of relief that the moment had passed and we're all still alive here at the Fine Line Café .....

We like Rachael Yamagata here (and not just because someone has the mega-watt hots for Ms. Yamagata), having covered her a few times.

I won't be making it out to her Minneapolis show this year because of my early winter retirement, but I am sending someone else to cover her show at the Varsity Theater on November 26th. I have said this before, but the Varsity Theater is my favorite Minneapolis venue, but the unfortunate thing is that music acts are rarely booked on the weekend (which are reserved for the more profitable wedding receptions.) The other benefit about the Varsity Theater is that I believe they are in a noise ordinance section, so they have to end live music at 11pm or earlier.

The last time I caught Rachael Yamagata, she was waxing nostalgia about the "twelve years" (exaggerated) since she's been gone, but she's happy to be back recording music and meeting her fans on tour. As promised, she just kicked off her November dates last night in support of a little EP called Heavyweight. Heavyweight comes out November 20th via Frankenfish Records and will feature six new songs.

Opening up for Yamagata for all the North American tour dates will be Ed Romanoff, a Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter. His self-titled album, described as "a gritty masterwork of melancholic and atmospheric Americana", was just released this summer. I wonder if Romanoff will be bringing his rescue dog from Costa Rica, Freckles, on tour?

Live dates below:

11/17 - Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR 11/19 - The Independent - San Francisco, CA 11/20 - El Rey Theatre - Los Angeles, CA 11/21 - Anthology - San Diego, CA 11/23 - The State Room - Salt Lake City, UT 11/24 - Larimer Lounge - Denver, CO 11/26 - The Varsity Theater - Minneapolis, MN 11/27 - City Winery - Chicago, IL SOLD OUT 11/28 - Radio Radio - Indianapolis, IN 11/30 - Mr. Small's Theatre - Pittsburgh, PA

12/01 - Virgin Mobile Mod Club - Toronto, ON 12/03 - La Sala Rossa - Montreal, QC 12/04 - Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA 12/05 - Joe's Pub - New York, NY 12/07 - First Unitarian Church - Philadelphia, PA 12/08 - The Night Cat - Easton, MD 12/09 - U Street Music Hall - Waasshington , DC 12/10 - Local 506 - Chapel Hill, NC 12/12 - Vinyl - Atlanta, GA 12/13 - The Bottletree - Birmingham, AL 12/14 - 3rd & Lindsley - Nashville, TN

vu () ♥ rachaelyamagata.com ♥ edromanoff.com

Girls Girls Girls 6

Like this? Read more Girls Girls Girls articles.

V V BROWN
vvbrown.com

I honestly really loved V V Brown's debut album, Travelling Like the Light, and every once in a while, her song, "Leave!" comes up on my iPod and I just can't help but tap my foot to it.

She's hoping that her latest single, "Children", will inspire a singalong too, you can check out the video at vevo.com (officially released on VH1's "Big Morning Buzz Live").

What can I say? It's catchy, I love the ice-cream van song.

The song will probably be featured on her second LP, Lollipops & Politics to be released February 7th, 2012 on Capitol Records.

Catch V V live:

November 4 Washington, DC DC9
November 7 Los Angeles, CA Bardot *
November 8 San Francisco, CA Rickshaw Shop
November 9 Los Angeles, CA Hotel Café
November 10 Seattle, WA Nectar Lounge

THE BANDANA SPLITS
facebook.com/thebandanasplits

You know I love The Smiths/Morrissey, so I'm always game to hear people's interpretation of their songs.

We've previously featured this 50s doo-wop band, The Bandana Splits, on our Freebies section, but I wanted to spotlight their cover of Morrissey's "Everyday is Like Sunday" here.

The song was recorded as a special gift to fans for reaching 1,000 "likes" on their facebook. I did listen to it, it's very harmonizing and acoustic and, er, harmless.

Maybe they'll play it at their upcoming show?

11/12 - Brooklyn, NY @ Branded Saloon - 7:00pm - RSVP

PARENTHETICAL GIRLS
twitter.com/pgrrrls

Speaking of cover lovers, Parenthetical Girls covered Kate Bush on their new release Privilege 12" released yesterday (November 1st). You can listen for yourself on soundcloud.

Okay, so the singer isn't a girl, but I never said you had to be an XX to fit in this "Girls Girls Girls" series.

Well, it looks like the 'Rent-Girls will be doing some dates:

Nov 5 Portland, OR: Backspace
Dec 1 Brooklyn, NY: GLASSLANDS *
Dec 2 Purchase, NY: SUNY PURCHASE
Dec 8 Annandale-on-Hudson, NY: SMOG (Bard College)

RACHAEL YAMAGATA
rachaelyamagata.com

Just briefly, but I wanted to pass this along: Rachael Yamagata has been invited to tour the White House to participate in an official White House "tweet up meeting" today (Wednesday) at 4:30pm EST.

I have re-tweeted her message:

Going to the White House tmrw any ?'s/ topics you guys have u want me to relay? Tweet to @rachaelyamagata @JonCarson44 and @whitehouse

We have previously mentioned her current tour dates. Rachael will be stopping by the Fine Line Cafe in Minneapolis on 11/11/11.

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Summerfree

Here are a couple of free downloads for you.

MR GNOME
mrgnome.com

We have mentioned Mr Gnome before, Derek described them as "ethereal" music, to sum it up.

Their new album, Roaring Madness In Miniature, is coming out October 25th, 2011, via El Marko Records. They are offering a free single, "Bit of Tongue" available on Soundcloud (as well as elsewhere).

The free song is described as "layered and ultimately anthemic" and should give you a taste of this Cleveland duo's "gritty, space-psychedelia".

The duo will be touring through the fall, stay tuned for winter dates to be announced.

Mr. Gnome Fall Tour Dates:

10/05 Philadelphia PA @ TBA 10/06 Brooklyn NY @ Union Pool 10/07 New Haven CT @ Elm Bar 10/08 Pittsburgh PA @ Brillobox 10/14 Rochester NY/Buffalo NY 10/15 Rochester NY/Buffalo NY 10/19 Lansing MI @ TBA 10/20 Grand Rapids MI @ The Pyramid Scheme 10/21 Madison WI @ Frequency 10/22 St Louis MO @ Cicero's 10/24 Kansas City MO @ The Riot Room 10/25 Denver CO @ 3 Kings 10/26 Salt Lake City UT @ Burt's Tiki Lounge 10/27 Boise ID @ Neurolux		10/28 Portland OR @ Doug Fir Lounge 10/29 Seattle WA @ The Comet Tavern 10/31 San Francisco CA @ TBA 11/01 Fresno CA @ TBA 11/02 Los Angeles CA @ TBA 11/03 Tucson AZ @ Plush 11/04 Albuquerque NM @ The Launchpad 11/05 Oklahoma City OK @ TBA 11/07 Springfield MO @ TBA 11/08 Columbia MO @ TBA 11/10 Chicago IL @ Empty Bottle 11/11 Ft Wayne IN @ TBA 11/12 Toledo OH @ Ottawa Tavern 11/18 Columbus OH @ Skully's

BETH HART & JOE BONAMASSA
hartandbonamassa.com

To get their cover of Delaney & Bonnie's "Well, Well" as a free download, you have to sign up for a JBXP account at jbxp.net. This is apparently a myspace-like social network, but for Joe Bonamassa fans. Kind of a weird (and not to mention limited) social network - but when you sign up, you get to become friends with Joe and a free copy of his compilation album, Blues In The Schools.

As for the Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa's album, Don't Explain, which looks to be a soul cover album (covering such artists like Gil Scott-Heron, Tom Waits, Etta James and Aretha Franklin), is coming out in the UK on Monday, September 26th, 2011, via Provogue Records.

Full details, tracklisting, and other information at news.weheartmusic.com







ART VS SCIENCE
hartandbonamassa.com

This Sydney-based dance trio is currently in the USA, doing some dates for their debut full-length album, The Experiment.

Free download of their song at Girlie Action:

Art vs Science: Higher (AC Slater remix)

Their ongoing tour dates:

08/18 Tucson, AZ - Club Congress
08/19 Phoenix, AZ - Brick
08/20 Mexico City, Mexico - Voila Acoustique
08/21 Vancouver, BC - Fortune Sound Club
08/23 Portland, OR - Doug Fir
08/24 San Francisco, CA - Bottom Of The Hill
08/25 Sonoma, CA - Ampitheatre
08/26 San Diego, CA - Casbah
08/27 Los Angeles, CA - Sunset Junction
08/28 Tacoma, WA - Grit City Fest

VIEUX FARKA TOURE
vieuxfarkatoure.com

Vieux Farka Touré will be returning to the US, tour starts in about nine days from now.

The tour is for his third studio album, The Secret (which came out May 24th via Six Degrees Records). Free download of "Aigna" (feat. Derek Trucks) at bandcamp.

The Los Angeles Times said this about his live performances: "…this is a musician who, in live performance, has clear ideas about where he’s going, and why".

Tour dates below:

8/24 @ Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA
8/25 @ Iron Horse – Northampton, MA
8/26 @ South Island Field – NYC, NY
8/27 @ The Rotunda – Philadelphia, PA
8/28 @ Thunderbird Café – Pittsburgh, PA
8/29 @ Ninth Ward @ Babeville – Buffalo, NY
8/30 @ 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
8/31 @ Jefferson Theater – Charlottesville, VA
9/01 @ Local 506 – Chapell Hill, NC
9/02 @ Orange Peel – Asheville, NC
9/03 @ Riverfront Nights – Chattanooga, TN
9/04 @ Georgia Theatre – Athens, GA
9/05 @ Calvin College – Grand Rapids, MI
9/07 @ Evanston SPACE – Evanston, IL
9/08 @ Elinora Jazz Festival at Krannert Center – Urbana, IL
9/11 @ Cedar Cultural Center - Minneapolis, MN

FORT WILSON RIOT
fortwilsonriot.com

I've seen this band, both as Ice Palace and as Fort Wilson Riot, they are pretty well-known in the Twin Cities.

The latest news I have on the band is that they are excited to be playing at Ohio's 10th annual Midpoint Music Festival (MPMF) in mid-September.

You can grab a free song, "For All The Little Things" at mpmf.com. The song was previously seen on Daytrotter, and I'm assuming the song will be available on their forthcoming album.

09/01/11 Nomad - Minneapolis, Minnesota
09/03/11 Nomad - Minneapolis, Minnesota
09/06/11 The 331 - Minneapolis, Minnesota
09/16/11 Music Week Columbus - Columbus, Ohio
09/17/11 Cataracts Fest
09/24/11 MPMF - Know Theater
09/25/11 Lemmons - St. Louis, MO

MERLE HAGGARD
merlehaggard.com

"Outlaw" country music legend, Merle Haggard, will be releasing his latest album, Working in Tennessee on October 4th, 2011, via Vanguard Records.

The album is mostly original Haggard songs, with some covers, including T. J. "Red" Arnall's "Cocaine Blues" and The Kingston Trio's "Jackson", which both songs were made famous by Johnny Cash. I suspect Haggard's versions will be closer to Cash's version.

Haggard, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2008, continues to sing and perform at retirement age. But he seems to enjoy it: Haggard is quoted about his live shows: "I'm swinging back in full throttle right now. Music keeps me alive. It makes me breathe better. It's funny, but I feel better when I come off a tour than when I start out."

Get the free title track, "Working in Tennessee" at vanguardrecords.com.

RACHAEL YAMAGATA
rachaelyamagata.com

I must confess, I have the "the mega-watt hots for Ms. Yamagata".

Rachael Yamagata's new album, Chesapeake, was made possible by her fans via PledgeMusic (which is like Kickstarter, but for music). The overwhelming support from her fans total over 150% of her goal. Most of the unique stuff like handwritten lyrics and music sheet were snatched up quickly and autographed setlist going away fast (10 left). I think PledgeMusic and Kickstarter is doing it right with these rare/unique items in addition to the "regular old'" CD.

Chesapeake comes out October 11^th, 2011, her first studio album in three years. Free track "Starlight" is available here.

Plus, she'll probably be doing her new songs on our upcoming tour:

10/24/11 Portland, ME Port City Music Hall 10/25/11 Burlington, VT Higher Ground Lodge 10/27/11 Isthaca, NY Deliah’s 10/28/11 Northampton, MA Iron Horse 10/30/11 Boston, MA Brighton Music Hall 10/31/11 Philadelphia, PA World Café Live 11/01/11 Washington, DC Birchmere 11/02/11 Baltimore, MD Soundthage 11/04/11 Brooklyn, NY Knitting Factory 11/05/11 Pittsburgh, PA Club Café 11/07/11 Detroit, MI St Andrews Hall 11/08/11 Chicago, IL Logan Square 11/10/11 Milwaukee, WI Turner Ballroom 11/11/11 Minneapolis, MN Fine Line 11/12/11 Davenport, IA Redstone Room 11/14/11 Kansas City, KS Record Bar 11/16/11 Denver, CO Larimer Lounge 11/18/11 Salt Lake City, UT State Room 11/20/11 Spokane, WA A Club 11/21/11 Vancouver, BC Media Club 11/22/11 Seattle, WA Crocodile 11/23/11 Portland, OR Doug Fir		11/25/11 San Francisco, CA Slim’s 11/26/11 Santa Barbara, CA Soho Restaurant 11/28/11 San Diego, CA Casbah 11/29/11 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour 11/30/11 Tuscon, AZ Crescent Ballroom 12/02/11 Austin, TX Parish 12/03/11 Houston, TX Fitzgerald’s Upstairs 12/04/11 Dallas, TX Thee Loft 12/05/11 Tulsa, OK Cain’s Ballroom – 2nd Stage 12/07/11 St. Louis, MO Blueberry Hill 12/08/11 Nashville, TN 12th and Porter 12/09/11 Birmingham, AL Work Play 12/10/11 Atlanta, GA Vinyl 12/12/11 Knoxville, TN Relix Theatre 12/13/11 Charlotte, NC Visulite Theatre 12/15/11 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506 12/16/11 Charlottesville, VA The Southern 12/17/11 Louisville, KY Headliners 12/18/11 Columbus, OH The Basement 12/20/11 Hoboken, NJ Maxwell’s 12/21/11 New York, NY City Winery 12/22/11 New York, NY City Winery

GOODMAN BROWN
goodmanbrown.bandcamp.com

Goodman Brown is a New Jersey indie pop. Don't really know much about the band, they seem like a fairly new band, with their debut album, Moon Digby, released last year.

They have a two-track free EP at bandcamp.com.

As you can see from the crap cover (censored) artwork, the actual name is F***! It's Free!!, but they're calling it simply, Free-P. Tour dates below.

Aug 19 Bushwick, NY Party Xpo
Aug 25 Philadelphia, PA Grape Room
Aug 26 Philipsburg, PA Club Squared
Aug 31 Newark, DE Mojo Main
Sept 7 New Haven, CT BAR Night Club
Sept 8 Cambridge, MA All Asia

THE STROKES
thestrokes.com

Finally, if you haven't already downloaded the tribute album, STROKED, it is available as a free download at stereogum.com.

Personally, I love The Strokes' debut album, Is This It, released ten years ago on July 30th, 2001. It came at a time when bands weren't doing this sort of rock music, like it was from the 70s and Julian Casablancas' laid back vocal stylings.

There was a moment when I was stuck in Chicago, and I got into a van full of young people and they put on Is This It, and we were all singing the song from start to finish! It wasn't a very long album, but what gets me is how we all knew each song's lyrics and happily sung along to it. There are very few albums that we can love every song.

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Rachael Yamagata at the Fine Line, 10.2.08

Rachael Yamagata - Duet Rachael Yamagata Tour Dates 10/10/08 Borders Los Angeles, CA 10/28/08 9:30 Club  Washington DC 10/29/08 World Cafe Live  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 10/30/08 Bowery Ballroom New York 10/31/08 Paradise Rock Club (Hotel Cafe Tour) Boston, Massachusetts 11/01/08 Music Hall of Williamsburg  Brooklyn, New York 11/03/08 Bogart’s Front Room (Hotel Cafe Tour) Cincinnati, Ohio 11/05/08 Park West Chicago, Illinois 11/06/08 The Varsity Theater (Hotel Cafe Tour) Minneapolis, Minnesota 11/07/08 High Noon Saloon (Hotel Cafe Tour) Madison, Wisconsin 11/08/08 Blueberry Hill (Hotel Cafe Tour) St. Louis, Missouri 11/09/08 Liberty Hall (Hotel Cafe Tour) Lawrence, Kansas 11/11/08 Bluebird (Hotel Cafe Tour) Denver, Colorado 11/12/08 Avalon Theater (Hotel Cafe Tour) Salt Lake City, Utah 11/13/08 Knitting Factory Concert House (Hotel Cafe Tour) Boise, Idaho 11/14/08 Doug Fir Lounge (Hotel Cafe Tour) Portland, Oregon 11/15/08 Chop Suey (Hotel Cafe Tour) Seattle, Washington 11/17/08 Great American Music Hall (Hotel Cafe Tour) San Francisco, California 11/18/08 Henry Fonda Theater (Hotel Cafe Tour) Los Angeles, California Read More Rachael Yamagata - Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart - Vox http://weheartmus... Rachael Yamagata - Elephants Today marks the release of Rachael Yamagata's Elephants...Teeth Sink... My two lovely dates and I arrived at the Fine Line on Thursday to an overly crowded room of sweaty and shouty douches.  I have to admit that I wasn’t very interested in being there at all on a weeknight as I am old and crotchety; but I also have to admit that, apart from the guy on crutches who seemed alright, the majority of the people at the show on Thursday seemed to be transplanted from a Taylor Swift appearance at the State Fair.  Needless to say, I started out the evening feeling grouchy and superior, a combination of feelings I don’t often step into.  It might get better though, so keep on keepin’ on. The opening act was a man named John Devine (pronounced “divine”), another little soapbox singer born of the hipster womb that’s located these days in Brooklyn.  Devine sang songs, like many before him, of protest, love, infidelity and cute girls who grow up to be hot.  I liked this guy and his guitar but only for a few minutes.  Eventually the singing/yelling got painful and the self-indulgent banter between himself and the audience made me a little sad.  At one point, after a song attacking the War on Terror, Devine got into a long, awkward conversation with a soldier in the audience.  The rest of us could only hear Devine’s tactful (and a little frightful, honestly) responses.  I was ready to sit down on the ground and drink myself into oblivion.  Okay, so it’s not better yet.  Just wait. We decided to go outside for some fresh air and good conversation in between acts, which turned into cigarettes and talking about periods (sorry about that).  After a bit, some real pretty sounds started to waft out into the frigid night air.  Rachael had finally started.  She began by apologizing in advance for her voice as she had come down with the flu.  And if you’ve heard Rachael sing before, you know that her sultry, raspy voice already sounds a bit sick (in a good way).  The addition of actual illness caused her to sound like Bryan Adams (and I mean that in the nicest way possible; I really do) but she trudged on.    Recently, Vu, the boss man here at W♥M confessed that he totally has the mega-watt hots for Ms. Yamagata and after Thursday night, I get it in a big way.  She’s lovely, lovely, lovely--the kind of performer who oozes sex appeal even while deathly ill.  And she oozes that sex appeal because she is believable, is not the plasticized version of sex we see 99.764% of the time.  Her words are honest; her smiles are honest; those drops of sweat and brow furrows are honest (at least I’m convinced they are).  These songs come from a very real place inside of her and to see that place represented so beautifully is brilliant and rare.  Yamagata gives a voice to emotions that so many of us have felt after love gone sour and the voice she gives them is sensational. (Take a look at Jason’s review here of her most recent album for a little more background.) Cute anecdote: for the encore, it was just Yamagata and her keyboard which turned out to be a little more than her vocal chords could handle as I’m sure they were exhausted and full of mucus.  So, some sweet, fan-girls in the front row belted out the notes she couldn’t hit, proving their teenage devotion.  Rachael seemed genuinely grateful and wheezed out more thanks than necessary, showing off a gorgeous smile and making those girls sing even louder.  (Maybe a bad move brought on by fever.  Just kidding, girls!) So, in the end, Kate the Grinch returned Christmas and joined all the Whos in Whoville as they sang their creepy Whoville song.  That is, until a drunken 40-year-old named Tom whistled so loudly in her ear that it throbbed the rest of the night.  Then she stole Christmas all over again. Rachael Yamagata is currently traveling the U.S., spreading all kinds of sickly germs.  Yum!  See her website for tour dates and learn her songs in case you need to help her.

Links: rachaelyamagata.com myspace.com/rachaelyamagata

 10/08/2008 21:07:12  ♥ written by kate ()

Rachael Yamagata - Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart

Rachael Yamagata - Elephants

Today marks the release of Rachael Yamagata's Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart, the follow-up to her full-length debut, Happenstance. It was originally slated for a summer 2007 release, but due to changes at her original label, RCA, and switching managers, it was inevitably delayed. It is available now on Warner Bros. Records from various digital and retail stores.

The theme of Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart seems to be heartbreak and trying to overcome it.  The album is split into two parts; the songs on Elephants are darker and more intimate while the tracks on Teeth Sinking Into Heart are grittier and more cynical.

 

Rachael Yamagata - Duet

Rachael Yamagata

The title track for Elephants ends with a gripping line that sets up the theme of the album; "So for those of you falling in love, keep it kind, keep it good, keep it right. Throw yourself in the midst of danger, but keep one eye open at night." The song was written while running down a mountain in Woodstock without a pen or paper; she kept repeating the lyrics so she wouldn't forget them. "Sunday Afternoon" is a beautifully orchestrated nine-minute piece about making a difficult decision and accepting that both people involved had a part in the collapse of the relationship; but not to dwell on it forever. It's followed by a sorrowful sounding "Elephants Instrumental" and "Duet", a stripped-down acoustic tune featuring singer-songwriter Ray Lamontagne about two people thinking of each other at the same time but are unfortunately in different places. She felt she was over the relationship, but her emotions got the best of her. On "Over and Over", she confesses, "I really thought I was okay. I really thought I was just fine, but when I woke this time, there was nothing to take me back to sleep, to take you off my mind".

 

Rachael Yamagata - Sidedish Friend

Whereas Elephants was more intimate, Teeth Sinking Into Heart seems to be her cynical side. "Sidedish Friend" opens this part of the album with the lyrics "I don't want you hanging out with me, but I want you when I call. We can stay together separately and we won't be lonely at at all" and "I don't want to get too close to you and I don't want you too close to me". It's about being someone's part-time lover. In "Faster", she sings, "You're like an old tattoo and I know you'll fade in time ... I'm not the one for you, there's just one thing left to do. Why don't you let me be." With this part of the album, she's clearly ready to move on.

From October 9 through November 18, Yamagata will be on tour for The Hotel Café Tour 2008. Joining her will be some amazing up-and-coming female singer-songwriters, some of which have been featured on W♥M: Ingrid Michaelson, Meiko, Priscilla Ahn, Kate Havnevik, Thao Nguyen, Brooke Fraser, Samantha Crain, Alice Russell, Jaymay, Erin McCarley, Katie Herzig, Jenny Owen Youngs, Lenka, Emily Wells, Anya Marina, Holly Conlan, and Catherine Feeny.

Links: Official Website | MySpace | Youtube | The Hotel Cafe Tour

Posted by Jason