Brandi Carlile - TD Garden February 12, 2026

 

Brandi Carlile
TD Garden
Thursday, February 12, 2026

Support - The Head & The Heart

What a show.

Wow.

I will admit I am fairly new to her music.  I did buy the record "In these Silent Days" (which is/was her seventh album) and really liked it, my wife did too.  When the new album came out "Returning to Myself" I did something I haven't done in a while it seems for a "bigger" act...bought it day it came out.

Her appearances on Saturday Night Live, Howard Stern as well as seemingly "everywhere" (this is a good thing) I decided to get tickets for my wife for Christmas.  I'd be remiss if I didn't also mention the music with the Highwomen

The ride to the city was fine and we settled in to our balcony seats shortly after The Head and the Heart took the stage.  I am unfamiliar with them as well but really enjoyed the set.  The energy was great and I will for sure "look further" into them.

Brandi, who is on just the second night of her very first arena tour began the evening with "Returning to Myself" where she was behind a curtain.  It was a very neat "haunting" feel to it.  The set really takes off and she is quick to get around the stage and engage.  The stories in between songs were all great.  I know sometimes you get that whole "shut up and sing" thing going on with bands, but these all pulled us in.  When she did "Swing for the Fences" a song she did with Elton John (she also did "Who Believes in Angels") she spoke of her fandom, what it was like to work with him and his presence.  She is a great story teller.  

A fun part of the show she noted they had tried the show before was to make a bigger space a little more "small" and they did audience requests.  Brandi was flanked by "the Twins", her long time band mates and collaborators Phil and Tim Hanseroth.  This was really fun.  The first one requested was "Downpour".  It was a hit.  The second was taken from a fan a little further back and "up" who requested "Wherever is your Heart".  What I loved about this tune was Brandi laughs in agreement and then calls out (I am paraphrasing) "Any acoustic open tuning capo 1"  I was impressed she didn't appear to need a teleprompter and both songs were excellent.  Really made me realized I had missed out not seeing her years ago.

The show needs to also mention her band, all terrific and "SistaStrings" Chauntee and Monique Ross, who sing, dance, are tremendous musicians and add to the overall awesomeness of the night.  They were so great when they were able to step forward, and Brandi is very good about having everyone called out and recognized.

I left incredibly pleased.  It is not my usual go to for music, but my goodness is she talented and seems to genuinely enjoy what she is able to do.


The full setlist:
Returning to Myself
Human
Mainstream Kid
Swing for the Fences (song she did with Elton John)
A War with Time
A Woman Oversees
Right on Time
Who Believes in Angles (song she did with Elton John)
Downpour (audience request)
Wherever is your Heart (audience request)
You without me (Solo)
The Mother (Solo with SistaStrings)
The Story
You and Me on the Rock
No One Knows Us
Sinners, Saints and Fools
Long Long Time (Linda Ronstadt)
The Joke
Hold Out Your Hand

Encore:
Church & State
Uninvited (Alanis Morrisette)
A Long Goodbye*
* about a verse of "Sweet Baby James" by James Taylor

You can see a cleaner version of the set list here

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