Tag Archives: singer

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Caroline Smith: “If you gotta guy like mine then read the signs don’t lose your mind make the drive to Jefferson”” – Live at the Independent in SF (Dec 9, 2017)

Written by Erica Andreozzi


I had no idea that walking into the Independent early to check out the opener for Overcoats would have me walking out with a new favorite artist: Caroline Smith, a neo-soul, R&B singer with indie-folk roots who formerly released two albums with her band Caroline Smith & the Good Night Sleeps before putting out a solo debut album back in 2013 called ‘Half About Being a Woman.‘

What hooked me right away with Caroline, beside her stunning vocals, was her radical candor and sassy songwriting, eminent in the first new track she played (video below) which unfortunately  I did not catch the name of:

“I will not pretend, I will not put on a smile, I will say I’m alright for you, when all I wanted was to be good, to do everything in truth…
You bloody mother fucking asshole
You bloody mother fucking asshole
You bloody mother fucking asshole
You bloody mother fucking asshole”

I thoroughly enjoyed this super-cathartic, super-sassy “ode to asshole” and could not stop smiling at the thought of this petite, innocent-looking lil’ lady shocking an ex-lover with her spunky, sassafras anthems. I couldn’t get enough of her spitfire lyrics and was super excited when she continued to breathe fire with a track called ‘Jefferson‘ (video below) — one that definitely puts fire under the ass!

“Chewing on some gum walking home and feeling dumb for giving into him another night
God damn it’s the way he stays just far enough away to waste my time   
I coulda told you I was only setting up the deck against myself, again.
If you gotta guy like mine then read the signs don’t lose your mind make the drive to Jefferson”

Such a sassy, witty, FEEL GOOD JAM that I could listen to OVER AND OVER. Sooooo good.

Caroline then treated us to a few new tracks (videos below),  ‘Animal‘ (“You’re an animal, you’re an animal, you’re an animal I’m the CRIMINAL… cause I’m one too”) and ‘Bad habit‘ (“I gotta bad habit of living rich on minimum wage .. I gotta bad habit for loving you… is the worst one.. the worst one”), both of which I can’t wait to be released.

Right after, she delivered a two more well-known tracks (videos below) —  ‘Trying Not to Love You‘ and ‘Half about Being a Woman‘ — both of which capture the innate, often conflicting desire to finding love in another without losing love in yourself: “I’m gonna go, walk out that door Cause being a woman, is half about being wrong but the other half led me to be singing this song.”  Every one of Caroline’s tracks unlocks another truth about femininity and societal expectations placed on women, and the video for her song ‘Magazine,’ created by director/editor Dan Huiting (Bon Iver, The National, Local Natives, Andrew Bird) depicts this quite beautifully. She is all about female empowerment and encouraging women to embrace their bold, outspoken opinions/voice and to proud of their roots:
“Over the last year I began to embrace that being a strong, confident, opinionated woman is something to be proud of, not subdued. I have to embrace where my roots are and stay true to who I am… I wanted to make music to celebrate that and to encourage other women to do the same.” Check out the PBS documentary, My Way Back Home, for the full scoop on Caroline’s transition to ‘Half About Being a Woman.‘  ❤
Check out her track ‘Bloodstyle‘ — also so freaking good!
Tagline: MISTER SISTER // MINNEAPOLIS OUTLAW // WOMAN IN THE INDUSTRY

 

 

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Henry Jamison: “Well if all is fair in love and war then I don’t know what we are fighting for; So if we don’t care to fight no more let’s go upstairs and let’s shut the door” – Live at Cafe Du Nord (Sept 15, 2017)

Written by Erica Andreozzi

 

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This talented New England troubadour (Henry Jamison) wears his heart out on his sleeve with this “ode to delirium” about a girl he was after but who still had feeling for someone else (gets real good at 1:50 in!). He is quite the visual lyricist, and his witty, melancholy style reminds me of a hybrid between Gregory Alan Isakov, Nathaniel Rateliff, and Scott Hutchinson (of Frightened Rabbit). I was mad impressed to find out that he writes, records, and arranges everything himself, including all of the album’s gorgeous string arrangements (which Rachel of Gracie and Rachel performed with him in SF). I have a feeling he will blow up within the next year.

“God-God-God damn that girl was fine
and I was glad to call her mine
She weren’t mine and I weren’t hers
I lost her at the five and dime
She was talking to a six-five-x marine
He was living out his truck
She said he was very fragile
I said I don’t give a fuck.”   YAAAAAAAS.


Henry Jamison dedicated this song to a fan in the audience (Andrea) whose husband came up to him beforehand with this request. Very cute. Cheers to some charmers that are still out there. Icelandic buddy Ari Hlynur Guðmundsson Yates first introduced me to Henry’s music back in June and I was immediately captivated by ‘Real Peach’ and the vivid lyrics on the woman he is pining for. I am so glad I got to see this performed live from the talented troubadour himself.

“Well if all is fair in love and war
then I don’t know what we are fighting for
So if we don’t care
to fight no more
let’s go upstairs and let’s shut the door
…
Cuz my baby she’s a real peach.. .. yeah GOD DAMN.” ❤

 

*Check out full videos from the night on my YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/eandreoz

Instagram: beatsthatsetmypulse
Twitter: @beatsthatsetmy

 

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Emily Scott Robinson: “So raise a glass to my good long life, don’t dress in black, don’t let me see you cry, I’m not afraid, I’m just headed home. It’s time to let me go’ – Swedish American Hall (Dec 8, 2017)

Written by Erica Andreozzi

SUCH A TREAT to have discovered the sweet, sassy, SUPER-TALENTED Southern singer/songwriter from NC (Emily Scott Robinson) who now lives on the road with her husband in their RV, writing and performing across the country and touring with bluegrass/grassroots powerhouses like Ben Sollee and the Kentucky Natives (Swedish American Hall). Equipped with an angelic voice and natural knack for storytelling, Emily gives us a glimpse into her wanderlust window, exposing us to the “traveling mercies” of life on the road and missing community and a home base. One of my favorite tracks from her set was ‘Better with Time,’ inspired by “the first place you live with someone you love” (which for her was a tiny one bedroom house in Colorado with a beautiful view). Another track that had my was a brand new one (finished only a few days ago) called ‘Ghost in Every Town.’ It was inspired by the monotony, desperation, and loneliness that she witnessed living for a short while in a small RV park in Oregon. The lyrics SLAY, and I could not help but get chills when she sang “The kinda desperate that forces you to kneel… The kinda howling you can only do alone.” WOW. But overall, it had to be ‘Overalls’ (her inaugural Patreon song) that stole the show. Written about her dear friend’s father who served in WWII and passed away this year, ‘Overalls‘ will touch your ❤️ and leave you in a puddle of tears/joy. It’s just so refreshing to hear stories veterans who were so grateful to be alive when they returned from war and who measured their wealth by their experiences and family/community (“I know I don’t have much to show, but I’m the richest man that I know”). I can’t help but smile to imagine this grateful fella who grasped every day as a gift and now looks back on his good long life with pride and appreciation: “So raise a glass to my good long life, don’t dress in black, don’t let me see you cry, I’m not afraid, I’m just headed home. It’s time to let me go.” Having released her debut album, “Magnolia Queen” just last year, Emily has started a Patreon page and will be releasing songs periodically while on the road. I sure hope her RV makes a very long pit stop in NorCal so I can see her again soon!

*Check out full videos from the night on my YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/eandreoz

Instagram: beatsthatsetmypulse
Twitter: @beatsthatsetmy