Rachael Yamagata Brings New Album to SOhO

WELCOME TO CHESAPEAKE: You’d probably recognize a Rachael Yamagata song long before you recognized its creator. Like so many of her young singer/songwriter contemporaries, this vocal powerhouse has seen her songs grace screens large and small, with songs and appearances on everything from Grey’s Anatomy and Brothers & Sisters to my favorite part of Must-See-Thursday, 30 Rock. TV spots or no, though, Yamagata is the real deal. She’s a force to be reckoned with on both piano and guitar, and her vocals alone are a kind of double threat, gorgeous in both breathy and cigarette-burned modes.

On Chesapeake, her third album — and second alongside Happenstance producer John Alagía (Liz Phair, Jason Mraz, Dave Matthews Band) — Yamagata expertly traverses the terrain between adult contemporary and alt-pop. Tracks like “Saturday Morning” are sure to be mom-approved, and feel like they’d be right at home on a Grey’s soundtrack, while “Starlight” is all sultry and Chrissie Hynde–channeling, complete with distorted guitar noises. Additionally, album opener “Even If I Don’t” goes the baroque route by way of a frantic piano line and sweeping strings section. The result is easily Yamagata’s biggest-sounding record yet, and one that seems to grow even better with age. Want to see it live? Yamagata plugs in for an all-ages show at SOhO Restaurant & Music Club (1221 State St.) this Saturday, November 26, at 6 p.m. Call 962-7776 for tickets.

THE AFTER PARTY: And if you’re in for an eclectic night of tunes, stick around after Yamagata’s set clears for a late show featuring Santa Barbara’s own Cornerstone. Since forming in 2009, these seven have elevated themselves to become S.B.’s go-to party starters. Their deep-cutting and bass-driven reggae grooves draw heavily from traditional Jamaican jams but also incorporate more contemporary elements, including hints of hip-hop and ska (Think Damien Marley meets KRS-1).