Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Michelle Branch was 17-years-old when she signed with Madonna’s Maverick Records, initiating a new era of young women penning and performing their own material.

Though it’s a regular occurrence now, it was a lot less common when she released “The Spirit Room” in 2001, which since went on to sell over three million copies and make a significant splash on the next generation.

With that in mind, Branch returned to the public eye for the “Everywhere And Back Again” Tour and an EP of reimagined collaborations, quickly selling out the storied House Of Blues and practically every other venue on the comeback trail.

Throughout 90 conversational minutes, fans from then and now got a chance to revisit the landmark pop/rock record, alongside later crests, collaborations and covers backed by a lively four-piece band.

Branch began on the upbeat notes of “Drop In The Ocean” and “Find Your Way Back” straight into “Breathe,” “You Set Me Free” and “Best You Ever,” retaining her warm vocal charm and inviting acoustic strums.

The brand new “With Every Heartbeat” found the Grammy Award-winning picking up precisely where she left off, plus the headliner proudly recalled working with country troubadour Jessica Harp in The Wreckers during “Leave The Pieces” and rock guitar god Carlos Santana on “The Game Of Love,” also streaming as a newly recorded duet featuring its writer/producer Gregg Alexander (front man for New Radicals).

Some may have mistaken “2 Become 1” as a Branch composition, but it was actually by the slightly earlier Spice Girls, followed by fellow original favorites “Goodbye To You,” “All You Wanted” and “Are You Happy Now?”

After admitting she was a “Hopeless Romantic,” the hitmaker brought the sing-a-long session full circle for “Everywhere,” the track that put her on the map and continues to resonate in this welcome season of revisitation.

For additional information on Michelle Branch, visit MichelleBranch.com.

For a list of upcoming Live Nation concerts, visit LiveNation.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at the House Of Blues include Moonbloom (Nov. 12); Almost Monday (Nov. 13); Lucky Boys Confusion (Nov. 14); Saosin (Nov. 15); Skilla Baby (Nov. 17); Hawthorne Heights (Nov. 18); Jake Cornell (Nov. 19); Love In The Club (Nov. 20); Dax (Nov. 21); Yung Gravy (Nov. 22); Amorphis and Insomnium (Nov. 23); The Pineapple Thief (Nov. 27); Yaelokre (Nov. 29); Suicide Silence (Dec. 1); Sister Hazel (Dec. 5-6); Smith & Myers (Dec. 6); Senses Fail (Dec. 8); Punk Rock Christmas (Dec. 13); Into It. Over It. (Dec. 18); Bruce In The USA (Dec. 19) and Baby Smoove (Dec. 20). For additional details, visit HouseOfBluesChicago.com.

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