RACHAEL SAGE at the Pink Elephant

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Terrific poet, vocalist, singer/songwriter, producer, actor and visual artist as well as a longtime record label owner (she founded MPress Records in 1996), Rachael Sage had a wonderful party on June 25th, at The Pink Elephant, the sort of "A feast for the Senses" cabaret/lounge that can only be described as a head-on collision between Hollywood and Las Vegas.

The reason for the celebration was Rachael's promotion of the release of her latest album Haunted By You. A select group of admirers and friends were present to enjoy the album songs she performed with her accompanist of choice, Ward Williams. I felt privileged to be included in the group

Released on May 22, via her own MPress Records label, Rachael Sage’s tenth album, Haunted By You, is a song cycle about passion and features guest vocalists Dar Williams, Katie Costello and actor/director Joshua Leonard ("Blair Witch Project," "Humpday").

MC of the evening was Rachael's chum Chip Duckett, here clutching her latest release Haunted By You

Haunted By You was tracked with members of Sage’s touring band The Sequins: Quinn (drums), Dave Eggar (cello), Russ Johnson (trumpet), and also features guitarists James Mastro (Patti Smith), Mark Bosch (Ian Hunter) and Jack Petruzelli (Rufus Wainwright); bassists Todd Sickafoose (Ani DiFranco) and Mike Visceglia (Suzanne Vega); mandolin player David Immergluck (Counting Crows); and drummer Doug Yowell (Duncan Sheik). Singer-songwriters Dar Williams, Lucy Woodward, Katie Costello, Ryan Hommel and Seth Glier – as well as actor/director Joshua Leonard – also make guest appearances; John Shyloski (Johnny Winter) and Kevin Killen (Elvis Costello) engineered.

Unlike Rachael’s previous albums, including 2009’s Delancey Street, much of Haunted By You was composed on guitar. “I pushed myself to pick up guitar to write this record because I was scared of it and took that as a cue.”

Rachael is one of the busiest touring artists in independent music, performing over 150 dates a year internationally. She has been airplayed on BBC Radio 2 and has shared stages with Ani DiFranco, Sarah McLachlan, Colin Hay, Judy Collins, Marc Cohn and Shawn Colvin. Rachael has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and New York's Fashion Night Out. She's garnered many accolades including the Grand Prize in The John Lennon Songwriting Contest as well as several OUTmusic and Independent Music Awards. Her songs have been licensed to HBO, MTV and Lifetime Television and her music has also appeared in the movie and on the Lakeshore Films soundtrack of "Fame."

Rachael and Ward Williams

Rachael with her assistant label manager Marvin Miller

Rachael's creativity knows no bounds. Here, a Kazoo was the right accompaniment for her song

Meredith from MPress with friend Rachael

Rachael and Ward Williams

 Jo-Ann DiLorenzo, Rachel's Hair and Makeup artist and Director Alysson Greefield of upcoming video Invisible Light, sandwiching a very happy Rachael

 Rachael's Marketers Nadine Gelineau and Anne, from The Musebox, with Rachael 

Ward Williams, Rachael's accompanist of choice

Rachael hovers over Alyson and Art Director Jasmina Tomic

The cabaret bar at the new Pink Elephant. Dark, intimate and atmospherically luxurious, the whole establishment is lit mostly by pink and magenta lighting, plus bulbs covering the beautifully designed ceiling and walls.

To see more photos of this event, click here