I returned to LA a couple months ago with the intention of writing for the rest of this year. It’s been hard to do that so far. So I’m glad to have a story to tell that gets the fingers moving on the keyboard, a story of writers inspiring other writers, a story of music and magic. An LA story.
If I sit in front of Chicago, I take photos. These are here to serve as a testament to the fact that I was there, seeing them again, seeing them ageing on, seeing their lineup changed yet again. Seeing them but for now, not saying – writing – anything else.
I’ve railed against ageism in recent years, ageism for women particularly, as it has affected my professional life. But there are a number of women in music whose lights are shining more brilliantly than ever in their old age and, in some cases, ill health, and I think it’s an interesting and powerful movement. If they are anything like me – and they must be, because I am a woman and I am human – they likely still feel childlike beneath their lined and weary skins and bones.
On a beautiful end-of-summer/early fall day in Silicon Valley I stood in the sun for hours waiting to get into the grounds of Stanford University’s Frost Amphitheater for my first full live concert in 19 months. Many artists had recommenced post-pandemic touring at the beginning of that US summer, and by the time I saw Brandi Carlile on this stage she had played through the summer at various outdoor venues as well as appearing at AmericanaFest and Ohana Festival. I had been somewhat preoccupied as I had taken off on a solo road trip around the United States, an epic odyssey that connected me more deeply to music – so often it was just me, my RAV4 and my music – and it also disconnected me from much of what was happening in the rest of the country and the world.
3 March 2020, Fred Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks, CA
I guess it’s just complicated. Like so many relationships in life. Relationships to family and loved ones, relationships to work and relationships to certain music. Music I love, musicians I am ambivalent about as time goes on.
“As time goes on I realise just what you mean to me…”
It’s hard not to throw in lyrics and even pun some when it comes to talking or writing about Chicago.
Brandification travels begin.
You know you’re hooked on an artist when you start spending money to travel for concerts. I’ve been doing it for the Eagles since that mad time I flew direct to London from Brisbane for three shows to launch the Long Road Out of Eden tour in early 2008. Flying from LA to Seattle to see Brandi Carlile play her hometown symphony hall wasn’t quite as far or costly, but I felt compelled to do it at this stage of my Brandification, and so glad I did it this time, as we were literally only a few weeks from the entire world shutting down.
The Brandification continues.
Here was Brandi in full band mode for me at last. She had begun 2020 optimistically with a huge schedule of shows, had in fact just done a series at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville and was about to head to Mexico for her annual “Girls Just Wanna” weekend festival (which to this day I have never attended), and this was Grammy Week in Los Angeles so she made an unforgettable stop at the Hollywood Palladium, one of the most unfiltered rock and roll Americana shows I’ve ever witnessed.
27 and 28 September 2019
MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV
This was something quite extraordinary. Not just another Eagles concert. And not just another “band plays full album” concert, which have become quite common as albums commemorate their 40th and 50th anniversaries. Hotel California is not just another album. Eagles is not just another band.
My heart is so full, so overflowing… There were a few moments at this show when I felt like I’d died and gone to heaven.
For those moments I will be forever grateful.
I live for moments like those.
Love Alive.
After seven years of being Brandified and constantly reminding myself that I need to post all the photos from the amazing shows I’ve been to by this amazing artist – and that is very few compared with the long-time die-hard Brandi Carlile fan people, I am finally retro-posting.
Call this Brandification Part 1.
DEBBIE DOES MUSIC 