by Petyr Campos
Headlining a memorable night at The Chapel, singer-songwriter Inara George delivered a performance that showcased her signature blend of pop, folk, and jazz influences. The Los Angeles–based artist has built a diverse musical career spanning decades, from her early beginnings in the 1990s to her current work as a solo artist and collaborator.
Music fans may recognize Inara George as one half of The Bird and the Bee, her acclaimed indie-pop duo with producer Greg Kurstin. She’s also a founding member of the folk-harmony group The Living Sisters, alongside a celebrated career as a solo singer-songwriter. Her latest release, Songs of Douglass and Littell, features material written more than thirty years ago by her longtime friends and collaborators Eliot Douglass and Philip Littell. The current tour is built around this new project.
Inara George showcased the vocal range and musical versatility that have defined her career, moving effortlessly between pop hooks, folk storytelling, and jazz-inflected phrasing. She has a wonderful stage presence, dancing and trading playful banter with her bandmates and audience, giving the show an intimate, unscripted energy. George described the concert as her own version of an “Eras Tour,” weaving together songs from across her many musical projects and career chapters into a single cohesive setlist.
Adding to the night’s collaborative spirit, Eleni Mandell, George’s bandmate from The Living Sister, joined her on stage for several duets. The pair performed tracks from Mandell’s new album Tailspin, her first solo release in seven years. Inara George’s show at The Chapel SF was an intimate, high-energy performance that highlighted her genre-defying artistry, warm stage presence, and deep musical friendships, a must-see show for fans following her Songs of Douglass and Littell tour.
Bay Area artist Asha Wells was the show’s opener. Asha’s debut album, ‘Water Words’, was released in 2023. She has an avant-garde sound blending unconventional instrumental arrangements to produce music with an indie, art-folk, chamber-pop vibe.
