In a predominantly male-driven local music scene, it is refreshing to have some all-women concerts hit our wet Portland streets.
With the Siren Nation Festival still warm in our minds we have been given an early Christmas present in the Hotel Cafe Tour. Not traditionally an exclusively women’s tour, Hotel Cafe, now on its fourth year, has in the past included Aqualung, Tom Morello, Perry Farrell, Weezer, Death Cab for Cutie, Ray Lamontagne, Rilo Kiley and even that infamous John Mayer.
There are always surprises, with amazing acts and performers popping up all along the winding path of the tour bus. This year, however, we get such strong up-and-coming acts as Thao Nguyen (of Thao and the Get Down Stay Down), Ingrid Michaelson, Meiko and Rachel Yamagata. Thao Nguyen leaves her Get Down Stay Down boys at home and embarks on this tour solo. Recently signed to the infamous Kill Rock Stars label, Thao has enough cool and enough swagger inside of her to sink a fleet of navy ships.
So, it is no wonder why a tour like this would want to pluck her right up. This tour that touts in its bio: “Once just a small coffee shop, The Hotel Cafe has quickly blossomed into not only one of the premier singer/songwriter venues in the United States, but also been labeled ‘the place that breaks artists.'”
Playing an infectiously simple brand of indie rock and guitar licks, it is Thao’s confidence, naturally cool attitude and hip-without-trying vocal delivery that lets one know when they see a star.
Not too bad for a girl that started playing guitar and singing in her mother’s laundromat as an adolescent. Thao’s is the kind of music that can transform even the most Pacific Northwest of Portland days (rain anyone?) into a summer romp through beaches and daisies and SUN. There is no staying down for Thao, she is a force and should not be missed.
While similar to Thao in her vocal strength and breathy belting, Rachel Yamagata is a quiet star worthy of praise. This lush, mostly piano-driven pop chanteuse could draw obvious comparisons to Cat Power, but these days everyone loves to liken a piano-playing solo woman act with a penchant for intimate songwriting to the power of the Cat.
There is something more at work here with Yamagata. This woman seems to be so steeped in the earth and thickness of human interaction and relations that it seems literally to take her breath away. Yamagata sings each word with just the right amount of power, such that the listener is an active participant in the struggle of each song.
Having just released her second full-length album and already accomplishing such rich and emotional sounds, one wonders just where this fully formed musical wonder came from.
Yamagata was the vocalist for Bumpus, a funk outfit out of Chicago for about six years until she started writing songs that didn’t quite gel with their sound. So she started recording on her own. And since then has worked with musicians like Ray Lamontagne (who appears on her new album), Rhett Miller, Bright Eyes and Ryan Adams, while creating quite a name for herself with her solo albums.
There is no better venue than the intimacy of the Doug Fir to catch these women and many more special guests as they showcase some of the best songwriting being performed by members of any gender.
Hotel Cafe Tourw/ Thao Nguyen, Rachel Yamagata, Meiko, Kate Havnevik, LenkaDoug FirNov. 14, 9 p.m.21+, $15 advance, $17 day of show
Rachel Yamagata Elephants/Teeth Sinking Into HeartThis special album is split into two discs: the first (Elephants) contains richly orchestrated piano/acoustic guitar-driven gems, the second (Teeth Sinking Into Heart) includes harder-edged rock songs.
Elephants opens with a title track that introduces the listener to “the voice.” It is a song that provides more emotional depth talking about animals than most other songs that deal with people.
The songs’ buildups are wonderful as well. “Sunday Afternoon” starts as a sparse orchestration, but by the end it has Yamagata belting “I’m not gonna live for you or die for you or do anything anymore for you” leaving one in a trance as if she were saying it directly to you.
There is an appropriately titled duet called “Duet” featuring Ray Lamontagne that will leave fans of the latter quite satisfied. Weaving in recorded field sounds like rainfall and trees makes this album all the more timeless.
Teeth Sinking Into Heart (disc two) doesn’t quite have the lasting affect that Elephants does but rounds out the whole album lyrically. While she hasn’t been given the praise that Cat Power or Fiona Apple have, Miss Yamagata is right up there with these songstresses. Give her a bit more time and you’ll be hearing Cat who? … Apple who?