I caught Christa Mae and the Brigade last Thursday, April 29th, at the Viento Y Agua coffee house in Long Beach, where they previewed songs from their upcoming album The Truth Is…

Armed with an acoustic guitar and backed by a bassist and drummer, I noticed Mae’s arrangement was stripped down in comparison to what I had heard in their recordings, but what she lacked in numbers, she more than made up for with energy and enthusiasm. She went through her pop-folk set charismatically introducing each song as if it were a close friend visiting from out of town. The group performed “Diesel,” “Nomad,” “Like A Wave,” “Up To You,” and “Carelessness,” with relentless endurance, never letting the energy drop.  The crowd was cheering along, rooting for Mae and the Brigade, and having fun doing it.

What stands out most about Mae is her songs themselves– their ability to explore secrets of the heart. Her emphasis isn’t on complex arrangements or unfamiliar sounds, but rather on simple structure and craftsmanship, along with direct narrative and songwriting. The lyrics are mature and experienced, those of someone who has been through responsible relationships, bitter breakups, frustrating mismatches and heartbreaks, and has acquired enough distance and good sense to write about them with a clear perspective. At times Mae is confessional of her misinterpretations, her disconnects, but she never feels sorry for herself or pleads for sympathy.  Mae’s vocals are melodic and sweet, yet imply a resilience and assertiveness lacking from many female singers. Instead of playing the vulnerable victim to desire, she avoids romanticizing love while still in believing in it. Whether with an attitude of nostalgia, anger or sorrow, her songs display the quiet strength it takes to continue when life feels difficult and impossible.

Although the group doesn’t have any future shows in the works, they are still swinging the hammer, putting the finishing touches on their album in hopes of a summer 2010 release. They have three tracks available for preview and free download on their website.

 

{mov}485{/mov}