popwreckoning updates

Amber Rubarth @ Club Passim, Cambridge, MA

Posted: 28 Aug 2009 12:53 PM PDT

After seeing The Paper Raincoat perform last month I had the suspicion that I may have discovered my new favorite female vocalist. After seeing Amber Rubarth (of The Paper Raincoat) perform a solo set last night at Club Passim, I was sure of it. There’s an intangible there that is often overlooked on shows like “American Idol,” a slight of vitality, a wink of charisma. Amber Rubarth has this where I see it lacking in all those hollow Idol hopefuls.

She has a unique way of singing, of communicating her thoughtful words that comes across effortlessly likable. The banner on her myspace pages quotes the Boston Globe saying, “you will leave with a crush on her.” Indeed, its hard not to admire a performer who performs her entire set singing through a grin. These kinds of things are contagious, and the right kind of attitude can marinate the night long after the songs have all finished.

Opening was Richmond, Virginia native Dean Fields, whose high school chorus teacher was in the audience to cheer him on. Dean played a really excellent set of acoustic folk music with a bit of twang around the edges. He has a wonderful voice that I’m sure makes his chorus teacher mighty proud. He appeared a bit shy at first but quickly warmed up to the tiny audience, at one point jokingly inviting his band up on stage with him (he was by himself) and when no one ascended the stage he then introduced the band, “guys, meet the band.”

Dean’s lyrics were impressive, the line “I’ve used a girl for the sake of a song once, and I’ve used a song for the sake of a girl more than once,” got a strong reaction from the crowd. I enjoyed his music and kind of wished he had more time to play.

The show at Club Passim was in celebration of the release of Amber’s new album, Good Mystery, which she explained was about how we’re attracted to the things which we don’t understand. Amber, who was once a chainsaw-wielding wood sculptor, handmade the first-run ’special edition’ version of the album in her room (sans chainsaw). Joined on stage by Austin Nevins on guitar, she started her set off with a string of “songs about boys.” She would later acknowledge the dominance of these songs and promise to balance out the set with one half boy songs and one half non-boy songs.

Regardless of subject matter, Rubarth’s songs are all well crafted and clever. “Song To Thank the Stars” acknowledges how we’re more prone to write after a breakup, and we’re sad, but when we’re happy we blackout, “I know exactly what to write when I’m in tears, but I don’t know what to write when you’re still here.” And “Wish We’d Gotten Drunk” is a fun song were she expresses her regret over utterly sober confessions of love the night before, wishing instead that she had an excuse and could blame it on the booze.

Amber, who is a first place winner of an international song writing competition, can really wow you at times with her lyrics. I was really impressed with the simile device she uses in “You Will Love This Song,” ruminating whether her lover’s vanished affections where every really there to begin with: “Now I’m the fool up on stage at the magic show, searching the deck for my card while everyone laughs because they know that its in plain sight to see, yeah its stuck on your forehead. But I can’t think you’re mean because I volunteered to be mislead.”

Amber Rubarth has been busy with her Good Mystery release and an upcoming release with The Paper Raincoat in October. She’s is a likable and promising performer and I can’t wait to hear what she comes up next.

Set List:
Edge of My Seat
Good Mystery
You Will Love This Song
Answer
Novacaine
Song To Thank the Stars
Just Like A Woman (Bob Dylan cover)
* new untitled song *
Show Your Weakness
Wish We’d Gotten Drunk
This is Real
Pilot
Rough Cut
When Will the Spring Come
//
In the Creases
Washing Day