From time to time, I am fortunate to see a live show that truly captivates me. Rachel Platten played to a packed house at Le Poisson Rouge, in New York’s Greenwich Village. A native of Boston, she’s been a regular in the New York scene since she first stunned audiences with some impromptu beat-boxing and singing alongside Toots, during a Toots and the Maytals concert (she was an audience member, and yes, it was unplanned and cool, as I was there to bear witness). If I had to describe Rachel in one word, I would use “energetic.” What made this evening incredibly special was the intimacy of the venue, and the pairing of Rachel Platten with opening act Ian Axel; two artists who love to play music and entertain crowds.
Ian, who hails from New Jersey, started playing the piano at age three. His love of the instrument shined on stage as he banged the keys and rocked back and forth while singing with such passion. Wearing a plaid shirt and sporting black rimmed glasses, Ian was hard at work, but comfortable in front of his piano. His songs cascaded from hard to soft, and at times included a great backing band. Ian connects with the crowd and is a true performer; his jokes and banter in between songs is enough to make anyone want to see him play.
As the headliner, Rachel took to the stage in her bubbly fashion and started off on a baby grand piano, later moving to her Yamaha electric. That night, she played both solo and with her backing band, who complimented her music so well. Although the piano is Rachel’s main instrument, she also plays the guitar, and sometimes I can’t decide which I like better.
In addition to energetic, I would also say that Rachel is charismatic, and has a joie de vivre that captivates any audience. It really is amazing when you see an artist who truly loves to perform. I was lucky enough to sit down with Rachel after the show, and she described how she felt “her gift to the world is to give energy back to the audience.” You get this sense when she plays her classic songs such as “Honeybees” and a “Million Little Reasons” with a big smile on her face. She gets her inspiration from the likes of The Beatles, Jeff Buckley, and Motown, but adds a real unique and diverse style to the well-crafted songs she writes. Her lyrics are witty, quirky, and fun, and just to drive the point home, she was selected by the Songwriter Hall of Fame as a featured writer.
Rachel also spends a lot of time on the road touring numerous towns. She’s played over 600 shows across the world, alongside some of the biggest names out there: Rusted Root, Sheryl Crow, and the Strokes. I, for one, am excited for her upcoming performance during the CMJ Music Marathon. Hearing her play will definitely put a smile on your face and brighten up your day. She’s cute, she’s incredibly talented, and if you’re lucky, she might even beat-box for you. I don’t know if it was fate that brought these two musicians on stage for one night, but the energy kept me wanting more even after the last songs was played. Go see both Ian Axel and Rachel Platten play intimate venues before they’re so big that you can’t get tickets.
