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Marca Cassity - Highly Live from The Blue Door (Marca Cassity 2002)

By Elizabeth Nitz

Since her debut self-titled release, Marca Cassity has toured the country, moved to Berkeley, and acquired a more layed-back outlook on life. Her new live CD reflects all of the above. Natural disaster gives way to meditation; desperation tempers to forgiveness and acceptance. The pace is mellower but the attitude is still very Marca and her songwriting is stronger than ever. Her lyrics remain powerfully introspective.

In some circles, a live album is considered inferior to a studio release. In Marca's case, however, the format is perfect for a number of reasons. Her voice and acoustic guitar fill the room with a rich, full sound and a live setting unleashes the comedienne in her. Marca's confident, fiery stage presence pumps up the emotional content of her songs. The first track on the album, "Bone Dry," demonstrates this. She sings slowly, punctuating the words carefully, "In this age of instant gratification, time and space and lack of communication, it makes you feel like something has died."

Later, she introduces "The New Age Institution" with a glib story about how the former Oklahoma cowgirl had a bit of trouble fitting in at a spiritual retreat ("There's no bullshit like New Age bullshit"). The song itself prompts lots of laughter from the audience. Her lyrics are undeniably witty, but the fun is in the character and punch she gives each word. She tells a great story.

Bob Marley-inspired "Root Yourself" is another highlight. This spiritually uplifting campfire song gets the crowd swaying and humming along. "Burn" is bluesy folk music in the hard-edged style of Caroline Aiken and is about rebuilding yourself from scratch. Patrice Pike of Sister Seven fame generates some incredible background wailing on both tunes. "Ride the Breath" encourages dealing with tough situations with honor and trust. Her voice growls deeply like a bow being pulled across strings as she sings, "Abandon all hope of fruition, live your life with one intention, ride the breath of meditation, it will carry you into compassion."

This is an essential record for fans of great acoustic folk/rock flavored with blues, reggae, and Marca's powerful voice. For more information and mp3 downloads, visit www.marcacassity.com