On the day Brandi Carlile’s new Bear Creek was formally released the singer put on a showcase at Easy Street Records in Seattle. After marveling about the capacity crowd she pointed out that it wasn’t so long ago when she routinely drew five people a night in a club a few blocks down the street. And she will return. “I promise to keep doing this as long as you promise to keep showing up,” she said just before the encore.
She played a baker’s half-dozen tunes including four from the new album, some past crowd pleasers and a wistful cover of Willie Nelson’s “Crazy.” Although the album was released that day there were already people mouthing along the words of the new songs. Referring to the album as “weird songs that don’t really go together,” she talked about its diversity, “Everything is fair game on this record and anything you want to come up with is going to work,” she said. “Nothing doesn’t fit. After the participation of (past producers) Rick Rubin and T-Bone Burnett we thought of this as our ‘the parents are away for the weekend and what are we going to do?’ record.” One listen to this album and you’ll petition Mom and Dad to leave the house more often.
Carlile is touring this summer in support of Bear Creek. For local dates go here.
