Show Review

For far too long women in rock have had either pop divas or watered-down Bambi’s as their representatives. Rachael Yamagata is about to change all of that. Finally, a woman whose music overshadows her beauty and whose beauty is defined by her music. Her new CD, Happenstance, is amazing in its own right, but her live performance proves that this is a woman of depth, humor and genuine talent.

At the Paradise in Boston, Yamagata quickly had her audience in the palm of her hand. From Happenstance’s “Worn Me Down” and “Be Be your Love” to her EP’s “Collide” and “These Girls,” Yamagata approached each song with passion and personal references. Introducing “Letter Read,” she explained the song was about telling someone you love you’ve gone astray and then as if embarrassed by her role in the situation added with a laugh, “Cheaters unite!” After telling more of the stories behind her songs, she explained her paradox of wanting someone close, but not wanting to be bothered, promptly laughing at herself as if with a group of friends.

Whether playing solo on the piano or with her band (including violin and cello which lend a particularly deep presence), Yamagata’s smokey voice and banter with the audience gave her performance the type of intimacy live shows are supposed to have. This is a girl who feels music – learning that it was only her 19th birthday made her more extraordinary in her vulnerability and willingness to open herself up to the audience.