Review: Brandi Carlile

Brandi Carlile shared a revealing story early in her headlining appearance Thursday at the VooDoo. She was seated at a blackjack table at the adjacent casino after the previous evening's concert ended. A stranger offered her opinion on the night's entertainment. 'The Black Crowes (freakin') suck'," a woman suggested.

"This is the way people talk about you outside your concerts?" asked a clearly aghast Carlile. "I was like, 'Lord, I'm not gonna suck tomorrow night.'"

She didn't. Carlile took obvious pleasure in leading her five-piece band in a gratifying 85-minute performance. A throwback to the era when the earnest heartland rock of John Mellencamp and Bob Seger topped the charts, Carlile is a defiantly unfashionable rocker. Her lack of substantial mainstream success is more a reflection of today's pop music trends than of her prodigious talent.

Her best known song is "The Story," which has been broadcast into countless homes through its frequent use in television programs and commercials. Carlile's dramatic howling on a rendition of "The Story" could have made Bono green with envy. Aside from her talent for crafting melodic songs, Carlile's voice is her strongest asset. Her solemn reading of "Over the Rainbow" was achingly beautiful. "Follow," an original ballad, was completely captivating while the resigned anthem "Turpentine" was propelled by her distinctive yodel-inflected vocals.

If Carlile has a fault, it's that many of her songs tend to follow a similar dramatic arc. More than once she began a song strumming an acoustic guitar only to switch to an electric model to emphasize a dramatic modulation. It's a good trick, but it lost its effectiveness with overuse. Perhaps that's why the audience of about 450 went wild for rugged versions of Johnny Cash's "Jackson" and "Folsom Prison Blues" during Carlile's encore.

Abetted by a near-perfect sound field, the evening's final song was a lush arrangement of "Pride and Joy." The contributions of cellists Claire Indie and Josh Neumann evoked Bruce Springsteen's ambitiously sprawling "Jungleland." Indie's playing also added to Katie Herzig's enchanting opening set. The singer-songwriter's unmistakable pop smarts compelled several members of the audience to wonder why she and Carlile aren't better known.

| Bill Brownlee,Special to The Star

Comments

[Professor]

"'The Black Crowes (freakin') suck'," a woman suggested." .......because you know the opinions of people blowing money at a riverboat casino are so relevant.

[BC Fan]

You spelled Carlile wrong in your headline.

Katie Herzig's cellist's name is Claire Indie.

What other song did Brandi switch to the electric guitar in besides The Story?

[My Bad]

I don't really like Brandi's music all that much, but think she's absolutely gorgeous. Hold on......What's that? She's a Lesb.....wha?? Oh. Never Mind.

["LaylaBella"]

That Venue was the worst one I have ever been too. The VOO DOO LOUNGE is a horrible place for a concert. Brandi and Katie would of been better fitted to The Midland or The Uptown. The security at VOO DOO was missing. The loud talking the entire evening was rude not only to the artist but to the people that came to HEAR the concert. Wake up KC !! VOO DOO SUCKS !

[Who's Brandi Carlile??]

I am proud to say as one who goes to many area shows, that for some crazy reason, I have never been to the Voodoo Lounge. There have been only a few shows I have wanted to see there and actually had tickets to see The Church, who canceled days before the show. I have heard many horror stories about the place and I hate the fact that most of it is General Admission.

Maybe I'll see a show there eventually. If I can suffer The Crossroads, the too small Riot Room and (overrated) Record Bar, and the none-atmosphere of Sandstone, as well as the bland venue at the Ameristar, I should be able to handle the Voodoo Lounge. Places like Knuckleheads, The Midland, and The Uptown Theater have spoiled me, and man, do I miss Memorial Hall!

[BigSteve]

I bet cellist Claire Indie has tons of indie cred.

["LaylaBella"]

THE VOO DOO LOUNGE SUCKS ! DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY GOING TO A SHOW THERE IT'S A HORRIBLE VENUE !!!! THE WORST EVER !!!!

[dontneedanything]

i would have loved to see brandi (i saw her last time she came thru town and loved every second) but i just cant stomach that damn venue. glad to see im not the only one.

[Steve J]

I have been to VooDoo three times with no troubles, so not sure what the fuss is all about.

[pellboy]

I have been to around a dozen shows at the Voodoo and have had no major issues either. Getting in can sometimes be a pain but I usually wait at the bar next door having a beer or two while line thins out during opening acts. It sounds like this would have been a problem at last week's Black Crowes show.

The sound is generally good and I personally like the GA shows as I can get closer to the stage that way. The two Dave Mason shows I caught there were the only seated shows I've been to and they were both excellent as well. Bartenders can sometime be a problem with their Cocktail antics but that seemed to be less prevalent during recent visits. Overall, I like the venue.

[Voo Doo Not Bad]

I've only been to the Voo Doo once for a concert and had reserved seating up top and I thought it was great.

[Bella1]

I like going to the Voo Doo if you have GA tickets. If you are sitting around the edge or in the back seats, there is too much noise. People taling and the bouncers won't ask them to be quiet.

[LaLa47]

someone use VooDoo to kill your puppy? Geez
it's the most intimate venue in KC. other than line issues, i've never had a VooDoo problem - they always give away autographed guitars too.

[Voo Doo Kinda bad]

I've been there twice and absolutely hate it as a live venue......since we are taking votes.

[Heather]

This was my first time at the VooDoo Lounge, I was not that impressed. The constant talking and drunken lovers quarells towards the end of the concert was ridiculous. However, this was my second Brandi Carlile concert and she was wonderful. She is an awesome performer and gives it her all on the stage. Although I didn't like the venue she preformed at, I would go anywhere to listen to her again. Her music and lyrics are pure genius!

["LaylaBella"]

I'm glad to see some people agree with me on this horrible venue !! The talking is non stop and the security people had NO control of this crowd of 450 people. PLEASE....... If you think this is the best venue in KC you need to get out more. It is by far the worse. VOO DOO is a BAR with a stage, and a cover charge of a ticket price that I paid $49.95 too much. I love Brandi Carlile and have traveled out of state to see her. But, if she returns to KC and makes the picks the VOO DOO I'm sorry to say it's a concert I will not attend, even if someone gave me the ticket for free !!

[concertlover]

Seen lots of shows at Voodoo and other than the fact it sometimes takes a little bit of time to get in I have no issues. I saw Indigo Girls there a few years back and it was the best show they have ever done (I've seen them over 30 times) and Stephan Marley was awesome at Voodoo. My only real complaint is that it's at a casino so I always gamble when I go and I never win when I gamble:( If I see a show at Voodoo I want to attend I won't think twice.