I haven’t been to The Cabooze in years. I’ll be honest; it was never my favorite venue. The layout is less than desirable, with a very shallow space in front of the stage and more of a long and narrow feel to the space in general. Sure, it was never my favorite, but I was excited to see that the venue had been bought and was going to go through a rebrand that is committed to a focus on local bands and original music of all genres. Although the grand reopening happened late last year, Thursday night was my first time back in the space. It was like a breath of fresh air to walk into the hallowed venue, and it was oddly refreshing to see that nothing had really changed, that there was life happening in the venue again, and that life was the Leading Ladies of Americana.
I know what you’re thinking– Americana is so out of left field for The Girl at the Rock Shows, and, honestly, you’re right, but the second that Sammie Jean Cohen started playing. Out of the four ladies playing, Sammie is the one I knew the least about. She was a last-minute replacement when Emmy Woods had to drop off the show, but after her performance on Thursday night, she could be a staple of this event that has now happened twice. Sammie’s sound was smooth and soulful. There was almost a bluesy aspect to some of her songs that made my heart swoon. Joined on stage by a banjo player, I loved how bare-bones Sammie’s set felt because it gave her a chance to shine in the spotlight without interference.
Speaking of stealing the spotlight, the one and only Katy Tessman was next up. I honestly can’t remember how Katy and I connected, but I am just truly glad we did. Katy’s set was a bit more rockin’ than that of Samie Jean Cohen, but it still had a singer-songwriter focus with Katy’s vocals at the forefront of it all. Katy is like the mother of this particular scene and it was stunning to see her set unfold in this light. Her songs are mostly uplifting, but they are just as genuine and honest as the songs of all of the other performers of the night. There’s a power that comes from this woman that I find irresistible both on stage and off. She’s a mama bear who wants to ensure everyone is okay and make sure to make everyone feel loved and appreciated. The way that translates into her music is dazzling. Even if you’re not a super huge fan of her distinct crystal clear and slightly over-enunciated vocals, there’s no way you can walk away from Katy’s set without feeling empowered and ready to take on the world.
Following Katy Tessman was the truly lovely Laura Hugo. I haven’t been able to spend much time with Laura in a live performance setting, but I did spend some time with her (and the two acts that followed her) on a radio show that I co-host from time to time on Saturday, so I was stoked to see what she would bring to the stage. Laura’s voice feels like nature. Sure, it’s smooth like that of Sammie Jean Cohen, but it’s more than there. There’s something so organic to Laura’s tone that it’s impossible to listen to her perform and not feel the tingle of chills running up your spine. Her songs, like the anecdotes she had before some of the songs, were raw and emotional but so beautifully presented that it was almost hard to keep in mind that each song was served with her signature brand of heartbreak. All in all, I was truly captivated by Laura’s performance on Thursday night, and although it was my first time experiencing the magic, it surely won’t be the last.
Closing out the lovely showcase of the Leading Ladies of Americana was the one and only Jillian Rae. I’ve seen Jillian Rae perform multiple times and write about her often, so I promise to keep this short and sweet, but, hot damn if you haven’t seen Jillian perform, change that. Like the three other ladies to grace the stage, Jillian is a force that refuses to be ignored. Her sound is more up my alley than that of the previous three acts with how she incorporates more of a rock sound and style to her unique brand of Americana music. Jillian’s lyrics have always caught me. They are just as serious as everyone else who performed on Thursday night, but they have a slightly more quirky take on the hardships of life, which really makes her sparkle. Whether playing her violin, acoustic guitar, or electric guitar or just singing, Jillian was the perfect ending to a fantastic night of female empowerment and gorgeous sounds.
Before I let you go, I want to thank Katy Tessman for putting this event on. Although I’m not the type to throw a pity party because of the hardships of being a female in the male-dominated music industry (and I don’t think she is either), it’s nice to have someone in the scene who is willing to lay it all out there to get women the accolades and attention they deserve. Katy works her ass off– there’s no other way to put it– and she has created this forcefield around her that draws other amazing people in. I’m truly honored to call Katy a friend and am always thrilled to see her out and about. She’s the type of woman that, the second you see her, something in your heart sings, and although that singing will never be as poignant as Katy’s, it is a beautiful thing.
Line Up:
Venue: Cabooze
Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable
Average Age of the Crowd: 42
Crowd Surfers- 0
Stage Divers- 0
Mosh-ability- 0 out of 10
Amount of Beer Spilled On Me While Walking Around- 0
Broken Bones- None Noticed
Spotted Flying Through The Air- Nothing
Fights- None Witnessed
Pukers- 0
Passed Out People- 0
Idiots Taken Out By Security – 0
How Many Times I’ve Seen These Bands Before (or at least how many times I can remember)-
Sammie Jean Cohen – 0
Katy Tessman – 1
Laura Hugo – 0
Jillian Rae – 3
Celebrity Sightings – None
Overall Score – 8.3 out of 10
Show on Deck —Desperate Electric / Afters / Covalent Blonde
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