Jessie Baylin warms up to a Chicago crowd with sparks of Firesight

November 20, 2008, at House of Blues

By Selena Fragassi
Published: November 23rd, 2008 | 1:05pm

Playing for a Chicago audience is not always the easiest gig, especially on a cold November night when many are in bitter spirits from being forced to line up in 20-degree temperatures before show time. But as Jessie Baylin lit up her House of Blues set, igniting the energy with the best of this year’s heat wave Firesight (Verve Forecast) and treating the crowd to a genuinely warm presence, all was soon forgiven.

Although the set began with whispers of “Who is she?” from the bulk of people anxiously awaiting headliner Matt Nathanson, the turning point came as Baylin introduced her hit “Leave Your Mark,” with a title that soon took on a literal interpretation. Before playing, Baylin spoke a few words about the song’s collaborator, singer Brett Dennen, and instantly she had the attention of the room. “I know him,” people began to say, as they quieted their chatter to see if maybe he would come on stage. Although he was absent and the drummer took over for his part of the duet, the song had done its trick, as Baylin left her mark on the audience, who became hypnotically focused on her for the remainder of the set.

It’s a phenomenon Baylin has become accustomed to, with a similar grassroots following that sparked her career and became engulfed in the fervor of Firesight, an album that chronicles the 24-year-old’s experiences and begins with the story of the title itself.

Growing up in New Jersey, Baylin’s first performances were on the stage of her parent’s restaurant/jazz bar called the Fire Site Inn, where she serenaded the same customers that would inspire her first songwriting endeavors in grade school journals. After high school, Baylin decided to take a risk and moved solo to the unknown territory of L.A., where she became enwrapped in the Hotel Café scene. She premiered on the tour in 2006 and again this year with the likes of Ingrid Michaelson and Greg Laswell before another memorable stop at Bonnaroo.

Now living in Nashville, Baylin’s new environment has again influenced her latest work that progresses from her independent premiere, You, with a peppery country intonation and a ruff and gruff voice that all but growls with passion from start to finish.

It’s a sound that belies her physical appearance, especially on this night as she twirls around, her cascading blond hair falling down her backless black top with bell sleeves that look like angel wings when she raises her arms.

Often described as a mix of Joni Mitchell’s honesty and Nina Simone’s power, it’s a voice that carried on tracks like “Was I On Your Mind” and “See How I Run,” which were as soft and soothing as lullabies. But with a vocal intensity that teases for more, it made you wonder what if, instead of rocking us gently, she just simply rocked? Maybe it’s something to look forward to on her next record, should she move again, maybe this time to New York or Detroit. Time will tell, but for now, the future burns bright as Baylin is just beginning to leave her mark.

For more pictures from this show, please visit Venus Zine's Flickr page.