Yamagata Plays to a Sold-Out Birchmere

Rachael Yamagata @ the Birchmere, Alexandria Virginia
September 23

Recommended Beverage to go with this Show:
Starr Hill Amber (this Charlottesville, VA microbrew was dark,
complementing the mood of the show]

Singer/songwriter, pianist, and guitarist Rachael Yamagata joked that half the people at the Birchmere last night were either related to her or worked for her family. Wherever they emerged from, hundreds of fans flocked to this sold-out show. In the spring, Yamagata played there on a co-bill with Landon Pigg and, only drew a fraction of the crowd.

Raised in the DC area, her shows here are always a bit of a homecoming. She did have family in the audience, including her dad [who sat way in the back leading her to joke, “Dad, you couldn’t get here on time for your daughter’s show?”]; her grandma [who called out a request for “Reason Why,” during the encore that she then played], and her twin brother Benjamin. In fact, he and Rachael were celebrating their 30^th birthday that night.

Still, "celebrating" must be used loosely around Rachael who is known for her melancholy mood and downright wry and bitter lyrics and kept in character the whole night. Her rich, sultry, bluesy vocals reinforced that mood. At times, though, the band, particularly the bass, overpowered her, but the drums were always just right.

One new song she played, “Elephants,” is a lovely ballad she said came to her while feeling particularly down but then simultaneously appreciating the beauty of nature. It’s the title track off the first disc of her anticipated double-disc of new material, Elephants…Teeth Sinking into Heart, set for release on October 7.