August 14th, 2024

As if their lovely sound wasn’t enough, they proved to truly be a band who nurtures the humans and music around them.

Walking into Caffe Lena on this particular Wednesday evening, it would have been difficult to discern what type of group was playing just by looking at the tables:

Seated at my own table was a young woman and her grandfather, while next to us were several older couples, and yet in front of them sat a gaggle of tween girls and their mothers. It was an eclectic mix of individuals, fitting for a group with an eclectic sound themselves.

The Rainbow Girls strode onto the stage dressed head to toe in red, with outfits ranging from a bathing suit top to a band tee to a pantsuit. As the night went on and they chatted with the crowd, their diverse wardrobe would prove to be a perfect symbol for the themes of their music, often singing about the confusing multitudes us humans contain.

They began wordlessly, with Caitlin Gowdey strumming a sliding, twangy rhythm on acoustic guitar. All three women swayed side to side as they sang the breathy harmonies, their movements matching the free-flowing feeling of the tune as Gowdey slid up and down the fretboard.

The room was still hushed after the crowd’s gentle applause, a feeling as though no one wanted to break the trance that had been cast with the first notes. However, the quiet soon subsided to giggles and whoops as Vanessa Wilbourn shouted out her mother on the livestream and thanked the city of Saratoga Springs for raising her best friend, who grew up in the area.

With the ice officially broken, the first set began in full, all three members switching positions and instruments between songs to cover electric and acoustic guitars, upright bass, keyboard, and, yes, the occasional beatboxing to make up for the drummer they didn’t bring on this smaller tour. The verdict is still out on whether the beatboxing was more impressive than Erin Chapin revealing she put herself through 15 minutes of beatboxing on the treadmill each time she went to the gym—we all know Beyoncé and Taylor had the luxury of completing their trainings in the privacy of anywhere but a Planet Fitness.

Those moments of laughter were artfully segued into moments of solemnity as they introduced songs regarding the harsh realities of the modern age, wondering before playing “Santa Anna” if we can call natural disasters natural anymore, referring in part to the rise of wildfires in Northern California, which the band calls home. The set ended with perhaps my new favorite song, “Compassion To The Nth Degree,” a beautiful, hysterical rock anthem for the kindness required of us in a time when others seem to have forgotten it ever existed.

The second set began with two of their more popular tracks, “American Dream” and “Free Wine,” during which their harmonies melted together. Throughout both sets, but especially in these two songs, their control of dynamics was astounding. Whether strong or soft, their vocals melted together into a seamless, warm glow.

Although the entire show was filled with sweetness, perhaps the most wholesome moment of the night came after ending with a gorgeous rendition of Crosby, Stills, and Nash’s “Helplessly Hoping”: the trio chatted with fans at the merch table and stayed to encourage a group of young girls that had an aspiring girl group themselves. After talking for a while, they followed the group into Lena’s lobby and listened to them sing “Country Roads” acapella, which they met with bountiful applause. As the girls exited and the band walked back to the table, Erin whispered to their manager, “okay, now I’m going to cry!” With the merch sold and the show over, they could have departed without a word, but after sharing a space with them for a mere two hours, it was clear that’s not the Rainbow Girls’ way. As if their lovely sound wasn’t enough, they proved to truly be a band who nurtures the humans and music around them.