Black + Blue/Rachael Yamagata

The incomparable Rachael Yamagata

Smeek and I met up on Monday (November 21st) for her long overdue birthday gift: her very first ever intimate concert headed by an artist she introduced me a few years ago named Rachael Yamagata. Her biggest song "Be Be Your Love" is among my favourites (below).

Before heading over to The Media Club (doors opened at 8pm, first act was slated for 9:15pm and Rachael wouldn't be up until past 10pm!), Smeek and I met at Oakridge Mall where I had just finished my optometrist appointment. I had a milly Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks and Smeek enjoyed some cookies 'n cream frozen yogurt at Yogen Früz. I had clearly chosen the wrong thing.

It was one of our first times out where we had no clue where we would be going to have dinner. What a dilemma! We vacillated between a few low-key places that I can't remember anymore (White Spot or Fatburger come to mind), and as our Skytrain approached Yaletown-Roundhouse I thought, "Hey! Let's go to Society!" But it was around 5:30pm and we weren't starving yet so we walked around Yaletown. I suddenly thought about reviews I had recently read for Black + Blue (in all fairness it was for lunchtime sandwiches at par with Meat & Bread) and with Smeek's iPhone, we saw a tantalizing menu selection and decided to walk past Robson to Alberni Street to try this place out.

The restaurant itself was gorgeous. I could not get over the lounge-y feel of the ground floor and the cool second floor that encircled and looked down at the bar. We were seated right away in a corner table by the window and quickly decided on our dinner. Though it was a steakhouse (and Smeek was originally craving a burger), I ordered the lobster bisque and tomato salad. Smeek got the steak tartare and fried macaroni and cheese. We both shared their blue cheese bread with chive oil ($2). 

Tomato salad (already tampered with by yours truly)

It amuses me how the cheap afterthought ended up being the star of the meal--if you don't count the chocolate soufflé, that is. Three buns were served in a small cast-iron skillet with a blue cheese glaze, and a small container of chive oil on the side. We wondered why we had never seen chive oil before! They tasted great but I could go for a moister bread...or better yet, if they put blue cheese in the centre of each bun.

The lobster bisque was watery, had a bitter aftertaste, and was just lacklustre overall. The tomato salad didn't fare any better, with its countless onions and flavourless tomatoes.

And unfortunately, the cocktail front wasn't that great either. My Vesper, which I had been curious about since first watching Casino Royale, smelled lemony fresh but tasted like cleaner. So I think it's fair to say that I learned that I don't like gin and didn't feel any sexier post-Vesper.

Vesper

We had a bit more time on our hands so we got the chocolate soufflé to share with vanilla sauce. This is one of my favourite desserts so I was really hoping it wouldn't disappoint. And thankfully it was good.

Chocolate soufflé

On our way to the upstairs bathrooms (which match the restaurant in elegance), we passed by their meat wall. I thought of Nicky immediately, and had I had a bigger data plan I would have immediately tweeted this to her.

Black + Blue/Nicky's meat wall

I should mention that there are two beautiful private rooms upstairs that would be great for parties or small get-togethers. But with the food the way it was (and the long wait to get the bill), I don't see myself recommending Black + Blue any time soon. I would give it a chance for lunch one day though.

In true non-Giosian fashion, we left the restaurant past 8:00pm (gasp!) and were not at the Media Club right when the doors opened. This ended up working out fine. It was the first time there for both of us and I immediately took to the small, dark club with people sitting on the rug in front of the stage. We found a spot on the second/third row and plunked ourselves down amongst the beer-soaked flooring and broken glass.

The Media Club's stage

The opening act was an acoustic set by Mike Viola, a singer-songwriter with a voice like Bryan Adams' and the look of a cool dad (he was in fact a father). At one point I turned to Smeek and remarked how well he enunciated his lyrics since I often have trouble deciphering them in general. We learned that he co-wrote with Rachael and other artists and that he also let his young daughter name both his album and one of the songs.

Rachael sings one of her last songs

Then Rachael Yamagata came on with her all-male band and put us all in a time-frozen trance. I was captivated by her dorky sense of humour, grungy clothes, and her unique voice--she has a way of filling her smoky tone with raw emotion. At one point she even said that people often think she's suicidal since her songs seem so blue, when really she is a light-hearted person who once felt the need to write a song in the company of her cats that made her feel sexy. Her and the band hadn't slept in five days but it didn't show at all, and I loved her candid honesty and how she told us the inspiration for some of her songs, like the troubles of dating musicians or getting out of destructive relationships. Quite simply, I walked away from that concert with a bit of a girl crush (and two CDs richer). 

I'm really glad Smeek and I got to experience this together and I'm equally happy that I didn't miss out on this show. It's funny, I almost always walk away from concerts with so much excitement, joy, and awe at what I just watched, and yet I still feel a slight sense of dread before going to one. Mainly because I end up getting home so late. Another reason to learn to apparate.

The standing may have something to do with it too.

PS. The subject of Twilight was brought up and Rachael is definitely on Team Edward.