News > Review:Rachel Kate’s “With Love And Hate” Album Release Show – No Hate for Rachel Kate

Local chanteuse Rachel Kate Gillon was a vision in emerald green, tats, and tulle at her album release show Saturday at the Charleston Music Hall and the stage was equally decked out. Her monitors had been yarnbombed by the Holy City Ravel Rousers, strings of lights extended over the audience like a DIY wedding, and most impressively, a paper chain of massive proportions draped down from the rafters and flowed in campy cascades.

Gillon’s voice was given its proper due in that room and was beautifully complemented with cello and a full backing band. She showed her tremendous range going from a soft lullaby to all-out wailing to a mouth trumpet part that added a touch of hilarity. Through her songs and a sweet and quirky video by Justin Nathanson that was an intro to her set, we got to know Rachel Kate, and she is easy to love. The small but devoted crowd jumped to their feet to give her a standing ovation as balloons floated down and shared emotion was spilling out. It is hard to imagine her not becoming a big star, but for now, we can fill our cups with her soulful and emotionally resonant new tunes and still sit up close to marvel at her beauty.

Opening acts Jordan Igoe and The Kernal featured some impressive musicianship as well. Igoe sang and strummed with Mackie Boles’ blistering guitar licks as accompaniment and later sang backup for Gillon. The Kernal, from Tennessee and playing their first-ever gig in Charleston, brought out Joel Hamilton for some accordion, adding another fun element to their alt-country-rock groove and causing people to dance in the polka-dotted aisles.

words: Dee Dee Arthur

images: Glyn Cowden