It's Monday, August 4th, and I have just returned home after a fine evening at the Hotel Cafe, a CD-release show of sorts for Miss Carrie Rodriguez, the fiddle virtuoso/protegee of Chip Taylor who will release her second solo album, She Ain't Me tomorrow. My favorite thing to do these days, when attending shows at the Hotel Cafe, is to take the train to Hollywood and Vine, then walk the three blocks west on Hollywood, then block and a half south on Cahuenga to the Hotel Cafe. No driving through Hollywood, no paying for parking, and only a $2.50 round trip for the train. A bargain. A steal, even. Plus, the Hotel Cafe is only a few blocks away from Amoeba Music, too.

But I digress. A promising young duo named KaiserCartel from Brooklyn, New York, opened this early show at 7p - nay, 7:15p. They are musicians, after all. And kudos for them for having the balls to perform a Lucinda Williams song with Lucinda Williams in the audience.

Miss Rodriguez went on shortly after 8p, and delivered a solid performance, backed by a group of solid musicians (almost all of whom currently reside in Brooklyn). Carrie's astonishing fiddle playing seemed to take a backseat (especially because this was such a short show) as she has become a more well-rounded musician since stepping out on her own, but even during the few songs that Carrie did break out her fiddle for, it was obvious she's a genius. Carrie was accompanied by Lucinda for one song, "Mask of Moses," which Lucinda also contributes backing vocals to on Carrie's new record. Lucinda looked awful (especially compared to the "living doll" she compared Carrie to), but sounded great - and even more notable than that, was her obvious admiration for Carrie - and Carrie for her. Lucinda praised Carrie's talent on-stage, was the first to start clapping along during Carrie's final song - the fun, uptempo, "Never Gonna Be Your Bride," and was first to jump up and hug Carrie after the show. (Lucinda fans will be happy to know that she'll release a new album in October, and Carrie will return Lucinda's favor and perform on one of the songs on Lucinda's new record.)

It's too late to go to the show (ha!), but not too late to get Carrie's record (by the time you read this, it will probably be out!). With songs co-written with Gary Louris, Dan Wilson, and Mary Gauthier, plus vocals by Lucinda Williams, how can you go wrong?