June 2- 8, 2005

musicpicks

Inara George

rock/pop

California dreamer Inara George doesn't just take a sad song and make it better. On All Rise (Everloving), she takes 11 sad songs and makes them bounce, swing and ache, all at once. She gets to the crux of the paradox in "Turn On/Off": "Unhappy that I am unhappy that I am unhappy." Michael Andrews' pristine production emphasizes George's clear, resilient voice (Suzanne Vega's not a bad comparison), but their not-so-secret weapon is a fleet of vivacious and beguiling acoustic guitars. George fills her songs with fools forever on the brink of leaving lovers almost as needy as they are, and, miraculously, she makes you want to stay with them.

Mon., June 6, 9 p.m., $10, all ages, with Sam Prekop and James Yorkston, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 866-468-7619, www.r5productions.com.

—M.J. Fine