That is my answer.

My husband and I were at her show in Minneapolis in February of this year.

From start to finish, we were blown away. I was thrilled to hear Brandi and her band play my favorites, like “The Story”, “You and Me on the Rock”, and “The Joke”. I was surprised and delighted when Brandi covered “Uninvited” by Alanis Morrisette, and when she brought out the opening act, an awesome band in its own right, The Head and the Heart, to sing Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida”, to when she told the story of when she met Elton John, after having idolized him since she was a kid.

Brandi shared the impetus for the lyrics in her song “War with Time”. It came from her previous perspective as a young woman leaving the nest for the first time juxtaposed with her perspective as a mom to a daughter in the current who will naturally do the same before she knows it. You know, the emotional push and pull that goes along with all motherhood and daughterhood.

And Sista Strings and the Twins? Putting them all on one stage, complimenting each other’s musical skill sets and working as a team, infused with joy throughout. Chef’s Kiss.

As it was not long after ICE thugs murdered Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis that this show took place, Brandi gave a lot of love to the crowd in appreciation for the courage shown by the citizens of Minneapolis in the face of that. At the end of the show, she invited the Singing Resistance onto the stage who led us all in a song with the rallying cry “It’s Okay to Change Your Mind“, which was what they sang at the ICE officers during Metro Surge as an act of political non-violent activism.

I’ve never been to a concert that felt more like community in my life. Brandi Carlile is not only a gifted, dynamic songwriter, performer and musician, but she is also a builder of community. She is a national treasure.

I’ll sign off with a song of Brandi’s that I love so very much that she didn’t play at this concert. I hope you enjoy!