Sarah Jaffe

Photo by Jana Birchum

Sarah Jaffe

Sarah Jaffe gone electric? That was the buzz before her SXSW showcase, as if that was some great affront. "I appreciate you letting me play acoustic guitar as a girl among many other girls," she remarked mid-set, toppling the accusation but picking up bass here and there and adding dancier beats to her set. No doubt there was a certain crowd there to see her – the same crowd that possibly got wide-eyed at the concept of Ani DiFranco's pointed poetry 15 years ago. There's something more spiritual to this singer-songwriter, who, backed by fellow Dentonites, debuted a few new songs and also ran through choice cuts ("Vulnerable," "Clementine") from her 2010 debut full-length, Suburban Nature. Solo, she would have been considered another girl with a guitar, but with the band she became polished, confident. Her voice is the center of each song, a stunning, long stretch of honeyed pavement. Years of playing open mics have no doubt given her lots of mileage, and she's stepping into her own, taking off the training wheels. Shred, Sarah, shred!