Rachael Yamagata
Zilker Park, Sept. 19Sheryl Crow may have sang “Are you strong enough to be my man” on Friday night of the ACL Festival, but Rachael Yamagata offered a proper reprise Sunday afternoon. During her early day set, the 26-year-old singer-songwriter dedicated her hour to bad men and worse choices. With nearly every song, and every break in-between, she was once bitten and twice shy. During the unbeatable “Worn Me Down,” Yamagata asked the audience to sing along, insisting they add the word “asshole” to label the tune’s villainous man. If there was any doubt before, Yamagata proved that her debut LP, Happenstance, is full of men to inspire such wrath. “This is a song about one of those asshole boyfriends and all the 15 year-olds he dated after me,” was an obvious digression. Overwhelmed by grief, some of the songs drown in the wake. Yamagata probably needs a new schtick, or at least something different for a festival environment. Regardless, her sixpiece band, which included cello and violin, cooked up a few great arrangements for otherwise timid songs like “Paper Doll.” Yamagata’s band, anchored by its namesake on keyboards, actually saved the sun-drenched day more than once. Without them, her take on “Be Be Your Love” would’ve evaporated. Instead, the band impressed more often than not, even if Yamagata couldn’t quit offering her sentiments on short-lived love. “Do you have a boyfriend or a girlfriend?” she asked the days-old festival crowd with a cynical snicker. “It’s just for the weekend. It’s only temporary.” – Matt Dentler
This article appears in September 24 • 2004.
