I want to be able to say that Waxahatchee played a supreme show at Porchlight Coffee and Records this past Saturday. I want to be able to say that because Waxahatchee, the solo project of the former P.S. Eliot’s Katie Cruthfield, is a cut example of lo-fi “girl-power” rock, which makes it oh-so-lovable.  I want to be able to say they played a great show, and I kind of can — the band played with whole-hearted energy and commitment befitting its general high quality.

The subdued, and sometimes potentially hidden, enthusiasm of the crowd, however, mixed with the continuously altered soundboard made for a venue which set Waxahatchee up for, not failure, but just not the live experience I know that they’re capable of. This isn’t to say that the group didn’t play well together or that the crowd wasn’t more than pleased to see them live.  The small shop was impressively stacked (especially given that it is right across the street from the more popular live music venue Chop Suey which was simultaneously hosting a benefit show) attesting to Waxahatchee’s fandom.

The highlight moments in the set were the songs when Cruthfield played solo. Songs like “American Weekend” and “Grass Stain” seemed finally at place in the venue’s soundscape. With just her and her guitar, the small space was filled with the appropriate level of sound. While both the bassist and drummer add unquantifiable value to the band’s recordings, in this setting they simply, and unfortunately, overwhelmed the ear.

Perhaps, then, Waxahatchee did play a great set just in an ill-fitting venue. Porchlight Coffee and Records is a small coffee shop merged record store (as the name suggests) where the beer that’s served at nighttime events is less expensive than a cup of coffee.  The small space might not have been able to accommodate such an enthused sound.

This was a trending feature of successful sets that night, in fact. Chris Brokaw, best known for his work in Codeine, opened for Waxahatchee and it was very fitting. Brokaw and his electric guitar produced a calming yet vibrant set that was thoroughly enjoyable throughout.

I want to see Waxahatchee again and would strongly suggest that you do the same.  You can check out some of their upcoming shows at last.fm and listen to their album, Cerulian Salt, on their Don Giovanni Records.

Photo Credit: David Henne