On Friday I was listening to Seattle-area singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile while I was at work. Brandi has become one of my current favorite musicians, so I checked her Web site to see if she’d be in the area anytime soon.

As luck and good timing would have it, she was scheduled to play at the historic Cactus Cafe here in Austin on that very night.

The Cactus Cafe, which opened in the Texas Union building on the University of Texas campus in 1979, is an intimate acoustic venue that has a reputation as a place “from which careers can be cut”. Early in their careers, artists such as Lyle Lovett, Robert Earl Keen, Lucinda Williams, Shawn Colvin, Nanci Griffith and Ani DiFranco graced the stage at the Cactus.

Even after they’ve made a name for themselves, artists such as Alison Krauss, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock, Townes Van Zandt, Loudon Wainwright III, Guy Clark, the Dixie Chicks, John Hiatt, Iris Dement, Ralph Stanley, Suzanne Vega, Gillian Welch, Patty Griffin, Bob Dylan, and numerous others, played the Cactus.

When I say that the Cactus is an intimate venue, that means it’s a small venue. The Cactus normally seats about 150 — but with standing room, it can swell to over 200 people. The Cactus does not pre-sale tickets, so it’s a first-come first-served situation.

I arrived at the Cactus around 7:30 for the 9:00 show start — there were already about 100 people in line, and by 8:00 there were at least 200 in line.

By the time I got to the door, paid my $10 cover charge, purchased two $2 longnecks of Lone Star (talk about a great value — $14 for a helluva show and two cold beers), and got one of the last seats (which put me almost directly in front of the stage, about 6 rows back), it was about 8:45.

Brandi was simply amazing — I haven’t been that affected by a live musical performance since I saw Willie Nelson peform live for the first time (with the Los Lonely Boys as the opening act, no less) two years ago. Brandi is clearly influenced by Jeff Buckley, but on her closing number “Hallelujah” (which Jeff Buckley wrote and became his biggest hit), she also clearly showed that she has a style and passion all her own.

Brandi, in a nod of homage to local legend Willie Nelson, also covered Willie’s “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain”. I think Willie would have been honored.

Check out her tour site — and if she’s coming to a town near you, do yourself a favor, and go see her perform. Or check out her album (available on ITunes). Other than “Hallelujah”, be sure to check out “What Can I Say” and “Closer”.

Posted by Robbie Cooper on Sunday, January 29th, 2006 | Trackback |