Rachael Yamagata put up a solid 2 hour show at the Esplanade earlier this evening, and won us over yet again with her personality and her talent. Its the half America-Japanese crooner’s second visit to Singapore and the Esplanade and this time she played tracks mostly from her latest album Elephants…Teeth sinking into Heart.

Most of the predominantly female crowd would have loved to hear more from her first album, but I am sure that, like myself, they enjoyed the evening thoroughly and felt that it was well worth the ticket price.

She apologised for her voice because she caught a cold on her 25 hour flight to Singapore, but she had nothing to apologise for, her energetic performance more than made up for any shortcomings in her cold affected voice. Switching between the piano, acoustic and electric guitar, she showed her multiple talents, but still looked most comfortable behind the ivory. Her banter warmed our hearts and made the 1000 people at a concert hall feel like a 100 people in a lounge. She sang Duet with both male and female parts and showed not just her sense of humour but also that she thoroughly enjoys making and playing music.

She was supported by a talented band who put up a near flawless band. Her cellist awed me and made me wonder why more bands do not have one  on their lineup. While an unfamiliar sight in a rock/pop band, it was a perfect match for the lounge style music of Rachael Yamagata. The lead guitarist is very comfortable with his craft and the drummer put up a tight performance. Overshadowed by the rest of the musicians, the bassist supported with beautiful backing vocals.

The opening act, Jack and Rai (pronounced Ray), was competent and enjoyable. It is good to watch local pop performers that are just a little left field but not self indulgent enough to be inassessible. I hope they will have more opportunities to play to such a receptive crowd such as tonight’s.

The Esplanade Concert Hall’s acoustic kicks the butt of other live music venues in Singapore such as the hollow Indoor Stadium, and the outdoors Fort Canning Park. I hope more pop and rock acts will perform at the Esplanade. Circus seats in the extreme left and right of the stage are wonderful for such concerts.

I chanced upon Rachael Yamagata by Happenstance. Browsing through Tower Records (when they still existed) one day and saw it at the listening booth. As I listen to Aimee Mann, Lisa Loeb and Sarah Mclachlan, I gave her CD a spin and bought it immediately. Her albums share my cd drawer with Opeth and Franz Ferdinand.

Rachael Yamagata is my quiet time music. If you have the hobby of scuba diving like I do, you might also have the chance of being on a boat moored in a remote island in the middle of nowhere, where only the stars and the moon lit the world. Not something a city boy like myself gets very often. But for the last three years, I have found such a night on my dive trips and have put on her first album Happenstance.

Part of the appeal of her music to me, is that it reminds me of heartache. In a way, its in my collection of self flaggelation music (metaphorically, I am too old to be Emo). Watching her performing the same songs live, with the energy of a stage performance, and at quite a close proximity thanks to my friend’s savvy seating choice, has demystified her music a little for me. In its place, is a more solid idea of Rachael Yamagata the person, and her very real personality.

I look forward to listening to her music in the dead of night again, and hope to hear more new material, and perhaps watch her live yet again in a good venue like the Esplanade.