Sera Cahoone Feels Right At Home

Sera Cahoone w/ Jenn Champion
Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA
12.21.16

Americana music takes many forms, Sera Cahoone‘s being that of understated alt-country, indie-folk introspection. Her investigations into humanity and heartbreak came alive when Cahoone brought her band back together – it’s been four years since the release of her third full-length, Deer Creek Canyon – for an intimate show at the revered Tractor Tavern in Ballard. They sprinkled a thorough set list of catalogue-spanning tracks with fresh material that felt right at home.

Opening the show was another beloved local singer-songwriter, Jenn Champion, former bandmate of Cahoone’s in the collector’s item indie rock group Carissa’s Wierd. Champion – along with her band, under the nom-de-plume “S” – has also released three solo albums, and after rechristening the four-piece band under the name “Jenn Champion” this past summer, the No One EP. Their solid 40 minute set contrasted intensely personal lyricism with Santa hats and playful dance moves.

A master of mixed emotions, Champion delivered her intimate looking-glass tracks that feel like she’s letting you read her diary, and there’s little room for interpretation. Tracks like “Losers” with tinkling opening keys and statement-making line of “This is how losers feel/I am a loser,” tugged at the collective hearts in the room, in a “humanity is futile” way. And then “No One” took an electronic tact in delivering a danceable beat with a melancholy theme. Thrown when a bandmate mentioned her recent engagement, but clearly excited about the outcome, Champion was awkwardly lovable on stage. She allowed the audience into a very personal space, and despite a packed house, she connected to everyone in the room.

Cahoone, for her part, gave a vibrant lo-fi performance proving why she has become a local favorite since her solo debut ten years ago. Accompanied by her full band – Jeff Fielder (guitar, banjo, dobro), Jason Kardong (pedal steel), Jonas Haskins (bass), and Jason Merculief (drums) – the set kicked off with “You Might As Well,” the opening track off Cahoone’s sophomore album, Only As The Day Is Long. Immediately, the plucky instrumentation and hypnotizing vocals bring you to a place of barstools, road trips, and front porches.

Plenty of folks in the crowd sang along to old favorites like “Baker Lake” and “Happy When I’m Gone” while the band threw in several new tracks as well. The new material stayed strongly in the same vein, not feeling at all out of place with the vibe or instrumentation. But that’s not a surprise from a group of musicians who’ve been playing together for a decade. Cahoone bantered a bit with the crowd, mostly asking them about holiday plans, and their attention was rapt. With the announcement of a new record in early 2017, Cahoone and Co. made the crowd’s nights.

Sera Cahoone Set List
You Might As Well
You’re Looking Tired
Baker Lake
Taking Toll
Up To Me
Happy When I’m Gone
Deer Creek Canyon
Better Woman
Only As The Day Is Long
Not Like I
Time To Give
Couch Song
Xmas
You’re Not Broken
Dusty
Shakin’ Hands
Delta