Caitlin Rose visits Paris

Caitlin Rose performs at la Maroquinerie in Paris, February 20th 2011

The sweet and talented Caitlin Rose came back to Paris after her last visit at the Fargo Records store. I got to know her music a couple days after this and I was really looking forward to see her at the Maroquinerie in Paris while opening for fellow American singer Laura Veirs. I really loved Caitlin's album with her collection of sweet folk songs but I didn't know much about her otherwise. This show was about to clarify how talented Caitlin is.

Rose started with the same song that opens her great latest cd, Learning to ride. She began singing with this nice and recognizable American twang she has in her voice. However, I was particularly struck by the power of her voice, which I didn't really notice while listening to her record. Caitlin's songwriting style makes me think of Tift Merritt as there are some similarities in the melodies but with more flashes of raw power in the vocals. It's even more remarkable if you knew that she was quite sick but you absolutely couldn't tell that there was anything wrong during her performance. She inspired a lot of confidence during her songs and in between as she was at her ease when she talked to the audience.

Rose repeatedly said it was the best show of her tour, wihch pleased the Paris crowd a lot. Hailing from Nashville, TN, Caitlin is part of this great tradition of country folk singers with amazing voices and who don't sing a line twice the same. From the soft Own Side to the more driven Shanghai Cigarettes, Caitlin showed a lot of heart and versatility, not to mention the amazing For the Rabbits during which she could display the whole range of her voice.

Caitlin Rose performed very well and really impressed me, particularly with her stunning voice. She's bringing that fun mix of energy and youth along with her obvious talent for songwriting. Rose has a bright future, no doubt about that.