Though not her first time to Montana, Brandi Carlile made her first in Billings appearance at the Babcock Theatre in early October. The sultry folk singer has been selling out performances across the country, and she drew followers from as far as far as Iowa, South Dakota, and Minnesota.
“For some reason we tend to make it out to Montana,” Carlile said, noting the groups visits to Missoula and Bozeman. “It hasn’t always been as beautiful as the Babcock Theatre,” she continued. “We’ve played places like Duke’s Chowder House…We opened for Hanson before we got signed!”
Touring to promote her newest album, Live at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Symphony, Carlile didn’t hold back fan favorites, and threw in a few covers including Patsy Cline’s “Crazy.”
“It was a tough time for Patsy back then,” Carlile said, discussing how she and her mother have argued over who was more badass: Patsy Cline or Tammy Wynette. “When this song came out, (Patsy) was saving to buy a refrigerator. I think of that whenever I play this song.”
Carlile’s country roots crackled across the Babcock Theatre, her voice at times otherworldly, her fans dedicated and loyal, giving her a standing ovation from the first song on, clapping along whenever she clasped her palms together. Catch Brandi’s new record on her website, www.brandicarlile.com.