check out this article posted about S.B. for her Dogfish Grille show next Wed., June 10th
in the Portland, ME Press Herald as a feature by Aimsel Ponti, called 'Night is Young.'
"You've taken the day off from work and driven for about an hour, hugging the coastline with the windows open. Then you find the sunniest spot and find you're the only person on the beach. The wind is warm, the gulls dart and dance above and beside you. You close your eyes and smile for a good long time.
Such an enchanting experience is what I liken to listening to Sarah Blacker's debut album, "The Only Way Out is Through." Blacker, from Boston, will be playing at the Dogfish Bar & Grille on Wednesday night.
She's a classically trained vocalist who learned piano by ear. She also picked up the guitar late in her teens, and after ditching lessons forged ahead and crafted her own chords and rhythms.
The opening track on her CD, "The Smell of Caramel," features mandolin and accordion. "Days like these the only things that feel right is eating dark chocolate and drinking red wine in the night," sings Blacker with her free and easy voice. "I Should Speak" tells of a person who can't find the voice to describe how she's feeling. Acoustic guitar, drums and bass carry the song along, and it's one of my favorites.
There's a tormented edge to "Countin' Pennies" in both the words and music. "Lately I feel just like dying, so empty my mind into a cup and hold it to your lips until you drink me darling down." I have inked into my day planner to make an appearance on Free Street next week because I have a pretty good idea that Sarah Blacker live will be even better than what I've been listening to for the past couple of weeks.