Austin – You’ll never know who your real fans are until you’re performing on a night when there is flash flooding and torrential thunderstorms all over town. On my way to see Sarah Jaffe at the Parish on Saturday night, I was curious to see the extent of the 28-year-old’s fan base in the midst of such unpleasant weather. As I climbed the stairs and walked through the entrance, I was delighted to find the cozy venue packed with fans huddled together and bubbling with excitement. Who would have thought?
Well, the answer to that question is anyone who has seen or heard Jaffe perform live. Hailing from Denton, TX, she’s come a long way since our interview with her in 2011. Having since released an EP and two full-length albums, the most recent of which is Don’t Disconnect (Kirtland Records), the young multi-instrumentalist’s live presence has taken on a freshly hard-hitting and bass-driven attitude. Mixing her electro-pop and alternative rock influences with the same sincerity that drew us to her folksy beginnings, Jaffe has staked her claim at the forefront of up and coming musicians.
Kickstarting her rocking set were two tracks from the aforementioned Don’t Disconnect, “Revelation” and “Ride it Out.” Right off the bat, it was a pleasant surprise to find that this once acoustic artist had transitioned so naturally into her newfound home of electric guitars and pulsing drums and beats. Taking on the bass guitar for most of the set, Jaffe was undoubtedly in her element as a rock ‘n’ roll frontwoman.
Continuing with various selections from her discography, highlights included “Fatalist,” whose live rendition was far more powerful and engrossing than its recorded version. There is something to be said for artists who can bring an entirely different energy to the live translation of their songs.
Jaffe’s solo performance of the stripped down title track “Don’t Disconnect” put a pause on the show’s increasing momentum, showcasing her lovely voice while creating a surreal atmosphere with an intermittent melody provided by the keys. It was, however, disappointing that there weren’t more opportunities to hear her voice in such a stripped down context.)
As is tradition, the band briefly departed from the stage before their encore. Dropping her g’s like a true Texan, Jaffe reappeared on stage chuckling into the microphone, “We weren’t really done. We were just pretendin’.” Emerging from the moment of whimsy, the beginning riff of Don’t Disconnect‘s “Lover Girl” began to sedate the crowd. The song subtly builds with the addition of Jaffe’s sultry voice, and the inconspicuous drums, until the crowd is lost in its hypnotic aura.
A great choice to kick off the post-encore reintroduction to the stage, this downtempo tune succeeded in settling down the crowd before the true frenzy ensued upon the mentioning of “Clementine” a single from Jaffe’s first LP, 2012’s Suburban Nature (also on Kirtland Records).
Though acoustic in its original form, Jaffe’s rendition maintained her since-developed inclination towards the plugged vs. the unplugged with an electric guitar guided by a more noticeable presence from both the drums and accompanying guitar. The rendition felt like a graduation of sorts; a nostalgic reminiscence of the past with a conscious reverence for what has happened since.
Before moving on, Jaffe prefaced her final selection with an unapologetic acknowledgement of her increasingly pop-inspired style. With the final explanation that “sometimes a bitch wants to play some Robyn,” she closed the set with the performance of the unmistakably rock ‘n’ roll “Leaving the Planet.”
After witnessing such a thrilling live show, it is clear that this young artist will continue to grow, and her persistent touring efforts will foster this growth and increase her listenership in the process. Possessing the type of charm and talent that demands adoration, Jaffe is a force within the indie music world, and her refreshing stage personality and continually maturing sound make her an artist to watch in the new year.
Although Sarah Jaffe doesn’t have any current dates listed, keep an eye on her Facebook.
Ruth Griffin
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