Brandi Carlile hasn’t performed in Tucson in several years, but that hasn’t stopped her from sneaking into her favorite vacation destination.
She and her family — her wife of three years, Catherine Shepherd, and year-old daughter Evangeline — snuck into town last spring.
“We’ve been back a few times,” she said, noting that Shepherd loves Tucson almost as much as she does. “We’re going to spend a little extra time there this time, too. I like playing golf in Tucson and I’ve got to have Mexican food while I’m there.”
The Seattle alt-country/rock singer-songwriter brings her tour for her new album “The Firewatcher’s Daughter” to the Rialto Theatre on Thursday, Sept. 24. It’s her first release since leaving Columbia Records in 2012.
The album dropped in March at No. 1 on the U.S. rock and folk charts.
“It’s been a really great album to get to play on the road,” said the 34-year-old, who is touring with her longtime bandmates twins Tim and Phil Hanseroth, a drummer and a cellist. “I’ve been looking forward to it for a really long time and ... I don’t think I’m ever going to get tired of this one.”
We caught up with her last week to talk about the album, the tour and her new role as mom. Here’s part of that interview; see more at tucson.com/calientetunedin
This album is largely regarded by critics as your best to date. There’s a renewed energy and intensity to it.
“I think so, too. I think it’s really special.”
I understand this was one of the most interesting recording processes you’ve gone through in your 10-year career.
“There was something about this one that was really visceral and no hiding. ... There is always going to be a level of posturing when you are making a record, trying to fit into a zone or become a character. In this case, I personally did not have a choice. I was anticipating the birth of my daughter and my wife was really, really close to giving birth to Evangeline. She did about two days after we finished the record. So there was a lot I was trying to say and to do before that happened.”
What is your favorite song on this album to sing live?
“Probably ‘Mainstream Kid’ right now, the really punk rock one. I love doing that one. It’s a real cut-loose moment.”
How have audiences responded to the album?
“People love it. They’ve been singing along to the songs. It makes us really proud to get out and feel that energy coming back from the audience that they love the album. It means a lot to us. Anytime you take a risk there’s always that chance that it might not be well received.”
What’s it like in your new role as mom?
“I love it. There’s nothing about it that I don’t love. She’s a cute little thing. She’s getting her 16-month molars and she slept through the night on the bus last night and it was kind of a relief to everybody.”
Does the family travel with you?
“All of our families travel with us so we’ve got three kids, three wives.”
How has having a family changed your approach to music and what you do musically?
“It hasn’t. If anything it’s given me a heightened awareness as far as a global heightened awareness. And that always makes its way into my music and the way I perform and the way I feel when I perform. But I think what would really affect me negatively would be not having them with me.”
