Rachael Yamagata

Alright … So it’s been a LONG long time since I’ve listened to this girl do her thing.

A while back… Good gawd, it’s been like 5 years… A friend of mind decided that I ABSOLUTLY had to go see this band, Bumpus, out at the Note in Chicago. Not much in the mood, I allowed myself to be dragged along. We got there a bit early and found out that one of the backup singers from Bumpus was going to open up and do a solo set.

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Rachael walked up on stage, sat down behind a piano with a few candles and a string of christmas lights, and belted out some of the best damn songs I’d heard in a LONG time. I don’t even remember watching Bumpus that night.

Anyway — I was a Rachael fan from that night on. Over the next few months we got to hang out with Bumpus quite a bit and watch Rachael do her thing. Even those crappy little Monday night gigs she did at the Good Bar … Man, to think back then she’d sometimes sing for 5 people.

Ah, the good old days…