The last time Michelle Branch released a solo record, it was 14 years ago. Despite this,
her show at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC sold out days in advance. The venue was packed
with a diverse group of people, including women in their mid-20s, graduated college fraternity
brothers, and middle-aged men and their wives. During the show, Branch told the crowd that
she was worried no one would come to her shows, but the concert-goers had obviously
debunked her concerns.
Known for her 2002 hit single “Everywhere,” Branch is part of the early-2000s female
pop rock musician crew with counterparts such as Avril Lavigne. Now, her tracks are dominated
more by electric guitar riffs and slow melodies but still retain much of her old sound. Think of her
music as an acoustic variation of Ashlee Simpson’s. During the show, Branch told the crowd
she had gone through a breakup recently, which had inspired much of her new music. Evidently
her album “Hopeless Romantic” is all about love lost and found.
Dressed in jeans and a casual black top, Branch focused on performing with her voice
and guitar. She exuded a very down-to- earth vibe – not just with her outfit but with her
performance as well. Branch made it a very dynamic concert by joking with the crowd, jamming
with her band and letting the audience sing into the microphone.
The show was very much live: Branch performed most of her songs in a lower octave
and embraced a variety tones for most songs. While it was refreshing to experience a new
sound, her renditions also left me hanging. During her encore performance of “Everywhere,” she
dismissed her band and sang with just her electric guitar – a big break from the rock-heavy
original track. As the closing song, it lacked the proper energy and liveliness that would have
punctuated the performance if she had kept the background percussions.
That being said, the show was still very enjoyable. Although Branch hasn’t performed
much in the last few years, she’s a talented singer with a nice voice – and knows how to use it.
A few of her new songs – my favorites were “Knock Yourself Out” and “Best You Ever” – are
catchy and easy to listen to. Check out her new music below and catch her on tour while you
can!
Everywhere
Knock Yourself Out
Best You Ever