Brandi Carlile - Live
[Manchester Apollo]

A masterful, dusky voice lunges out with impunity and the slickly clad, Brandi Carlile uses her honest American charm to send visions of Sheryl Crow being produced by Tori Amos into the thoughts of an accommodating early gathering. Using her unassuming, affable charm both during and in-between songs, along with the chiming guitar tag and country slanted percussion of a well-drilled backing band.

Brandi turns proceedings into a Sunday night Jackanory time with the engaging, range bobbing, Tori Amos touching tale of fate and hope, ‘The Story’. Despite being a little rockier, pacing and a little less diverse than the act everyone has come to see, signs are there that this amiable character is winning some friends.

A bracing cover of Jeff Buckley’s ‘Hallelujah’, imparts a welcomed surprise element and the paradoxical qualities of the original are not lost, but Carlile’s friendlier tone provides a different perspective on the work of rock music’s great enigma. Brandi leaves the stage and several people whip out their mobile phones/electronic diaries, ensuring that they make a note of this bright performer’s forthcoming cosy gig at the Night & Day Cafe, just across the city.