Girl at the Rock Shows

The early 2000s were a weird time for me. I was stuck between a few different worlds. One was a boy-band-infused pop world led by NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys. Another one was this super heavy world where System of a Down were kings and Slipknot were my hometown heroes. Then there was this super soft and sensitive female singer-songwriter kind of world led by a few people, one of whom I got to see on Wednesday night at First Avenue. Seeing Michelle Branch live as a thirty-something who hadn’t spent much time with her music since the early 2000s wasn’t just a trip down nostalgia lane; it was a cathartic journey my heart and soul so badly needed, and it was absolutely perfect.

Opening up the lovely night was Nashville, Tennessee-based Josie Edwards. It was love at first note with this woman for me. There was something almost snarky about her vocal tone, but it was also absolutely stunning. It didn’t feel or sound like I was listening to Josie perform songs; it felt and sounded like I was hearing her bare her soul for all to see. There was a level of honesty in her lyricism that I found super charming, and the way it was so relatable was the cherry on top. Although there was definitely something super mature and beautiful about Josie’s set, there was also something theatrical about it. I really don’t know why my mind kept on going to musical theatre throughout her set, but that’s where it went. She wasn’t just singing; she was performing, and each word came with a face or a movement that helped tell the story of that one word. On top of all of this, Josie had a classic rock n’ roll kind of edge to her music that seemed to sparkle under the spotlights. I guess what I’m trying to say from all these seemingly random notes about Josie Edwards’ performance on Wednesday night is that I was in love, and I hope this wasn’t my one and only time experiencing her magic on stage.

If you had a heartbeat in the 2000s, you surely know who Michelle Branch is. She was part of this wave of singer-songwriters that hit the stage in the early 2000s and instantly swept you off your feet with a pop-infused sound that was as fun as it was deep. Michelle Branch really hit it big in 2002, specifically when she won a Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals alongside Santana for the single “The Game of Love.” But that wasn’t even the start for her. Before that famed Grammy win, Michelle Branch had released ‘The Spirit Room’ in 2001. This album contained the megahits “Everywhere” and “All You Wanted,” along with a bunch of other songs that, if you, like me, haven’t thought about Michelle Branch in a hot minute, you should really go back and spend some time with. A lot of albums from this past era feel like a snapshot of time and act as pure nostalgia fuel, but there’s something different about this one. I spent some time with the album to mentally prepare for this show and was shocked by how relatable every single one of her love-and-love-lost anthems still was; it struck a chord in my heart, but I digress.

Michelle’s 90-minute set at the legendary First Avenue mainroom was defined as much by the hits she scattered into the setlist as by her charm. Although a megastar in her own right, there was something painfully understated about her performance and the way she calmly played through her set and laid her heart out on stage song after song. Joined by an incredibly talented and tight band of musicians, there were plenty of times during the set when it felt like Michelle was letting you breathe. I know that sounds so silly, but in a world where we all live at breakneck speed and every movement and choice feels like it leads to inevitable whiplash, there was something so beautiful about the time and space she allowed us throughout the night. I’m not sure if this was on purpose, if this was something only I felt, or if I’ve completely lost it, but it was something that had me just wanting to sit down in a corner of the dark venue and rock back and forth. I’m not talking in a dramatic kind of way, but more that I just felt comfortable, calm, and, for the first time in what feels like years, at peace.

Although I picked up on a calmness in this set, there’s no denying the power and energy that was radiating from the stage, and watching people latch onto that was beautiful. Much like the opening set from Josie Edwards, you didn’t just hear and see Michelle perform; you felt it, and every word sank deep into your soul, not just into your ears. I loved how engaging she was while still allowing for that space I was talking about. I also loved how she let you get nostalgic with her while constantly reminding you that she is so much more than just nostalgia. Although, for me, this was definitely a show that I wanted for the nostalgia aspect, I walked away with a new appreciation for a classic songstress, and I instantly put checking out everything that Michelle has been up to over the past few decades on my to-do list because, based on what I heard and felt on Wednesday night, it’s music that will definitely become the soundtrack to my everyday.

Much like my show on Tuesday night, I walked into First Avenue on Wednesday looking for a trip down nostalgia lane but left with so much more than that. What a beautiful way to spend a chilly, fall evening.

Line Up:

Josie Edwards

Michelle Branch

Venue: First Avenue

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 45

Crowd Surfers- 0

Stage Divers- 0

Dance-ability- 1 out of 10

Amount of Beer Spilled On Me While Walking Around- $0

Broken Bones- None

Spotted Flying Through The Air- Nothing

Fights- None

Sausage-Fest Meter – 1 out of 10

Pukers- 1

Passed Out People- 1

How Many Times I’ve Seen These Bands Before (or at least how many times I can remember)-

Josie Edwards – 0

Michelle Branch – 0

Show on Deck – Low Cut Connie / Fantastic Cat / DJ Kava

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