Material: The daughter of legendary songwriters Carole King and Gerry Goffin, Louise Goffin has exquisitely carried on their legacy while establishing herself as a formidable, multi-talent in her own right. Goffin's insightful storytelling and vibrant, visually compelling lyrics kept the appreciative audience rapt, hanging on for the next line of each musical tale. She balanced lighthearted charmers like “It Started A Long Time Ago” and the peppy folk/soul singalong “Playbook” with lilting, lush ballads like “Chinatown” and her summery latest single “All These Hellos.” She wrapped the set paying homage to her parents with a rousing take on “Natural Woman” and her father’s dynamic but lesser known “It’s Not the Spotlight.”
Musicianship: Goffin joked that one of the advantages of doing a solo gig is not worrying about varying the set-list last minute. She really didn’t need a bunch of musicians cluttering McCabe’s intimate stage because she was a one-woman-band herself––alternating between lead instruments based on the feel of the number. She used a uke to convey the breezy innocence of “It Started A Long Time Ago, a banjo to express the quirky fortune of trying to get to heaven “One Dollar at a Time” and
a Dylanesque harmonica to help weave the hypnotic storyline of “The Last Time I Saw My
Sister.”
Performance: With her illuminating smile shining throughout the set and colorful introductory anecdotes before every tune, Goffin made everyone in the audience feel an intimate connection with her. With a commanding yet whimsical onstage presence and a pure voice that switched easily from gossamer to guttural, she presented her tunes in an engaging way while inviting the crowd into her life, passion and process. Goffin offers a unique combination of being a seasoned singer, songwriter and performer with the kind of youthful charm and gentle innocence of artists just starting out.
Summary: Trained and inspired by the best of family and friends, Goffin’s performance offered a master class in incredible songwriting while keeping the journey fresh and jumping, enough to make everyone leave feeling just, yep, beautiful.
McCabe's Guitar Shop Santa Monica, CA
Contact: [email protected]
Web: louisegoffin.com
Players: Louise Goffin, vocals, guitar, banjo, ukulele, keyboards, harmonica
