Paula Cole – Firehouse Arts Center, Pleasanton, CA 03/28/2014

Surviving in the music business to have people care enough to show up for a third album is a feat in and of itself these days — now try sustaining a career over twenty years, and you realize how difficult it is to navigate the pitfalls of the industry, the obstacles put in the way by a culture obsessed with youth, and a public that just isn’t that interested in career artists anymore, unless they’re legacy legends like Dylan, Springsteen or Joni Mitchell.

A lot of people will laugh at the giants of the music world from the 1990s, because, for the most part, they continue to make music and tour, despite not having a charting hit in over a decade. But thank god they’re still out there, because while some fit the one-hit-wonder category all too well, the majority of these artists grew up in a world where the labels invested in long careers, allowing musicians to experiment, work with exciting new producers and other collaborators, and people paid attention. It was a generation of artists who were brought up seeing idols of theirs enjoy careers that spanned many decades, and it’s this type of dedication to their craft that separates them from the disposable outfits that a society obsessed with virality can conjure.

One of those hard-working, earnest and devoted musicians is Paula Cole, who many continue to cast off as the “Dawson’s Creek chick with the ‘Cowboys’ song.” Hey – at least they’re giving her credit for two hits, which is more than many of her contemporaries get! That said, you can’t change the labeling when you’re ubiquitous on the radio for certain songs – it’s what you do with the rest of your career that matters, though. And Cole is one who continues to release intriguing, thoughtful and compelling work, with Raven, her most recent offering, ranking among the best music she’s written.

Her show at Pleasanton’s Firehouse Arts Center was nothing short of magical. The venue is a small blackbox theatre with considerable charm, and delightfully intimate, which suited this show perfectly. A space like this redefines “there’s not a bad seat in the house,” and the sound engineer did a perfect job of amplifying Cole and her band- loud enough to rock but quiet enough to hear every nuance.

It’s near impossible to not be won over by a Paula Cole performance. She arrives on stage with such calm presence, and sings with strong conviction, inspiration dripping through the songs and harnessing a voice that can cut through ice, soothe in the most graceful way and soar to giant heights. And between the songs, she expresses such love and gratitude for those that continue to show up and continue to support her in making music. Between a winsome personality and outstanding musicianship, you just have to marvel at knowing that this is a true artist you’re watching work and enjoy the ride.

The setlist was a nice cross-section of her twenty year career. Obviously, Raven was given the most play time, but songs like “Mississippi” and “Carmen” from 1996’s This Fire still felt fresh and buoyant, with the former being as urgent as ever. The only low point was “Strong Beautiful Woman,” which while exhibiting a powerful message falls short musically and felt out of place among the introspective set.

Watching Paula Cole play is something some may scoff at as trying to relive the golden days of 90’s alternative radio, but her show reminded me that that’s a completely reductive way to look at it, and in fact it’s a complete gift to be able to see such a strong artist so devoted to her craft continue to work and enthrall, even in 2014.

Setlist:
Watch The Woman’s Hands
Billy Joe
Why Don’t You Go?
Mississippi
I Believe In Love
Strong Beautiful Woman
Me
Carmen
Manitoba
Eloise
Bethlehem
Feelin’ Love
I Don’t Want To Wait
Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?
Jolene (Dolly Parton cover)