By MEREDITH HUMPHREY, Special to Bootleg Essential Culture
Branch has been a full time musician for eight years, touring with two bands before releasing two albums.
In a small coffee shop in Clemson on a Thursday night, Christopher Branch transitions from a strong ballad into a cover song—Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up.”
To say the least, it was the last song the student-filled audience was expecting to hear. But after a sea of chuckles and darting glances over coffee cups, the energy in the room warmed and the crowd began to join in.
“There are so many good songs that are labeled as cheesy because of when they come out—I try to make them my own,” said Branch. “I love to look out as people kind of half smile and sing along with the lyrics. They really are enjoying the fact that you are playing a song that they grew up with in middle or high school.”
Branch’s talent is seen in both these quirky covers and in his original tunes. He takes phrases or words that seem over-used or over-looked in music and gives them a fresh life. Branch, 28, describes his first album, “Music in the Meantime,” as raw and uproduced, while his sophomore effort, “Letters from California,” is more radio-friendly.
One is almost forced one to take a seat and simply absorb when “Sigh” from “Letters to California” begins. Branch ’s faintly plucks his guitar between lyrics that are distanced enough to leave the listener hanging.
“Like You Never Said” recalls a 1990’s nostalgia, referencing the sounds of Hootie and the Blowfish or Edwin McCain’s “I’ll Be” as Christopher croons over a subtle saxophone. The title track from “Letters from California” takes a juxtaposing turn. The piano tinged ballad could have just as easily been written by the Counting Crows’ Adam Duritz.
For now Branch is sticking to local gigs. The 28-year-old is just as eager to hang out after the show as he is to be front of the microphone.
“My favorite part of my job is meeting people and telling my story through the microphone,” said Christopher. “I learned a long time ago that if you’re in the music for the wrong reasons it’s not going to make you happy. I get to learn part of people’s stories and be a part of theirs.”
