Blazing trails at the Carnegie Lecture Hall

Listening to Gillian Welch is like time travel; her music allows you a special glimpse into… Listening to Gillian Welch is like time travel; her music allows you a special glimpse into the past, while the delivery is undeniably modern.

Welch, a trailblazing songstress in the alternative-country vein, will bring her sweet voice, quiet guitar-playing and unique blend of traditional sensibility and modern consciousness to the Carnegie Lecture Hall tonight with performing and songwriting partner David Rawlings.

Steeped in the traditions of bluegrass greats like Bill Monroe, as well as the alternative sensibilities of bands like the Velvet Underground, the 28-year-old California native weaves musical tapestries that are as rustic as they are innovative.

The result is a sound that hauntingly transcends the boundaries of time. Who else could combine arcane country references like “They caught the Katy, and left me a mule to ride,” with provocative contemporary slang like “f—ing out of sight,” all in the same song? “Time [The Revelator],” from the album of the same name – without making you doubt any of it.

Place her in a shady grove in Tennessee or in a coffee shop in New York; either way, Welch’s musical stories make profound human sense, a quality that has placed her at the forefront of a burgeoning alt-country movement alongside like-minded acts such as Wilco, the Jayhawks and Ryan Adams – groups who have all gleaned inspirations from the mystic sounds of Appalachia.

While Welch has remained relatively immune to the popular limelight, save for her contributions to the “O, Brother, Where Art Thou?” soundtrack, she maintains an impressive list of musical accomplishments. Over the span of her career, Welch has released four albums, gained Grammy nominations and formed important musical liaisons with the likes of Allison Krauss, Emmylou Harris and Tim O’Brien, all superstars in the acoustic music world.

Look for her and Rawlings to dig deep into Welch’s repertoire, performing songs from her earlier albums, as well as some selections from her most recent effort, Soul Journey. And don’t be surprised if you hear a few traditional Appalachian ballads, authorless haunting songs that are as old as the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Gillian’s show is sure to be a refreshing evening of sonic time travel, as she brings the sweet sounds of the old country to a cool city night.

Gillian Welch and David Rawlings will appear Sat., Sept. 20 at 8 p.m., at the Carnegie Lecture Hall. Tickets are sold out.