Louisville Kentucky; Columbia Maryland and London UK: three
reasons why Brandi Carlile is the undisputed premier artist of 2016 in these
quarters. Just over twelve months ago the Grammy nominated album THE
FIREWATCHER’S DAUGHTER featured highly in the annual favourite release list and
if this was rolled out as a two year celebration it would be without equals. It
has more mileage than a lunar expedition and has really had its credentials
exposed within the live arena. The last of these three locations to see Brandi
in concert was her triumphant return to Britain, although there is unfinished
business around the provinces. On stage at Shepherd’s Bush Empire, and
subsequently on social media, she promised to make these transatlantic shows a
more frequent occurrence, with the obvious persuasive stance from many of her
UK fans to venture outside of the capital. However these suggestions are
probably left for another day, amidst the joy of seeing Brandi and the twins
actually play a supreme show on British soil.
From the summer Stateside shows, Brandi dropped the country
covers of ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ and ‘Peaceful Easy Feelin’, while obviously
keeping the more mainstream rock choices of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Going to California’ and the instantly
recognisable ‘The Chain’. The latter
played out as the final song with the full band re-united on stage for the
finale. Another country style song missing from the summer was the joyous ditty
‘Keep Your Heart Young’, but there were
plenty of gems from across her five album back catalogue to thrill the
dedicated and the casual.
From the latest record, the powerful trio of ‘Things I Regret’, ‘Wherever is Your Heart’
and ‘The Eye’ sparkled in their glory.
Long term Brandi companions the twins Phil and Tim Hanseroth join her for the
majestic three-part harmony on the latter. When paying respect to her friends,
she stated they are a band with no lead singer, but this does not do justice to
her wonderfully cracked vocals that pour out so much feeling, passion and
emotion.
While on the emotive subject, Brandi introduced the ode to
her daughter Evangeline which has recently been written. ‘Mother’ featured prominently on her summer US shows and it went
down as well with her committed fans this side of the pond as those devoted from
coast to coast in America. Brandi was in her usual ‘heart on sleeve’ mode and
the love shown in the packed venue was totally unconditional. This is repaid
with a stirring live performance adept at rocking out with the best on songs
like ‘Pride and Joy’ and giving many
their required treat with a sublime performance of her most prominent song ‘The Story’.
In fact the ninety plus minutes the band was on stage rocked
in a multitude of magnificent ways. Right from the highly pleasing opener ‘Again Today’ through a couple of
classics from the BEAR CREEK album in ‘Hard
Way Home’ and ‘Raise Hell’
and to the final song recalled from the set list memory ‘Dreams’. Without
doubt Brandi was not shy on projecting the fact that she was living her own
dream and one that she intends to share with a willing audience for a long time
to come.
Eventually the book will close on THE FIREWATCHER’S DAUGHTER
and 2016 will finally be anointed the gig year of Brandi Carlile. A new album
is promised soon, along with the aforementioned London return. However pressure
must be applied that our capital, and the south, should not be the limits of
the UK horizon. Wonderful nights like this Shepherd’s Bush Empire concert deserve
to be shared across a wider UK platform. Over to you Brandi!
