Michelle Blades: CD Release Show, Trunk Space, Phoenix, AZ 2/18/11

In the few days before Saturday’s show at the Trunk Space celebrating the release of Michelle Blades’ third album Mariana, my friends had asked what my plans were for the ensuing weekend.  When I responded, “I’m going to Michelle Blades!” blank and curious stares ensued.. “you mean the girl who plays the ukelele?”  Those concert plans received a few nods of recognition for those who have heard Blades perform within downtown Phoenix’s usual haunts, and a few blank stares from others.

Blades first appeared in Phoenix seemingly out of dry air at an open mic and proceeded to blow everyone’s minds by improvising a melodious song with simple strums on her uke. Since then, she has played at countless local venues, toured Europe and recorded three albums under the River Jones label.  We all can consider ourselves lucky to witness the evolution of such an amazing musician into a tremendous performer, without losing a ounce of sincerity and modesty.

Although Trunk Space is known for quirky and somewhat rowdy punk shows, Blades’ performance was a rare gap into something a little more low-key.  Upon entering, the attendees were greeted with what sounded like a string quartet in the middle of a complicated run but were baffled to see a sole performer, Tobie Milford, frantically composing on his violin with the aid of a loop pedal.  Milford, who is credited with the violin tracks on Mariana, was hand-picked by the headliner to open the show.  While the Andrew Bird comparison is both obvious and unavoidable, watching Milford’s live construction of complex stringed music is a treat;  full of several moments too quiet and delicate for the rustling of the papers in my pocket, followed by cacophonies triggered by a stomp of the violinist’s foot.  Meanwhile, Blades was watching intently from the front row. 

Blades, who sings and plays solo, began her set by joking and flowing beautifully through minor technical difficulties, and then interluding one of her older songs with a haunting a cappella rendition of “Nature Boy,” while her accompanists looked on. At the conclusion of the set’s first half, everyone sitting on the floor, at Blades’ prompting and direction, “gave themselves to chaos” and created a song on the fly: humming, clapping and stomping while Blades simultaneously directed us and improvised the melody.

“This song is yellow, and kinda like India,” Blades explained as she and brought in her accompanists and introduced “Like Wildflowers,” the opening track to Mariana.  We had been told that they only had two rehearsals together in preparation for the Trunk Space show.

Creating and performing great music seems to come naturally to Blades, as she ends each song with an endearing smile.  It’s brilliant in its simplicity and sincerity and even the mic feedback early in the show and the ill-rehearsed drummer seem more like part of the fun than a hindrance.  With her Regina Spektor leaning vocal flips and quirks, we get hit with the kind of poignant lines that only the more thoughtful and contemplative among us could muster: “Don’t you know I carry the weight of a million days?”  And embedded among the instrumentation which extends well beyond what most people would think a ukelele can do, are sprinkles of mythological figures and scenes inspired by her recent European tour and travels to ancient sites.

Blades’ banter on stage was filled with anecdotes about her favorite restaurants, the funny moments of her life when inspiration came, and the oddball characters she’s encountered in her daily life.  While the show pervaded of good wholesome fun, the songs are both musically and emotionally complex enough to be powerful.  Michelle Blades is no doubt the funny, thoughtful and exceptionally talented girl next door. 

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