If you need a break from the revolving monotony of the bars, skip the drink specials Saturday because we’ve got something better.

Instead of getting your drink on, try giving your musical soul the savory snack it’s been craving: the much-needed and nourishing melodic sustenance otherwise known as Erin McCarley.

McCarley — who signed with Universal Republic just one month after her electrifying performance at Texas’ 2008 South by Southwest Music Festival — erupted onto the music scene with her debut album, Love, Save the Empty in January. With comparisons to Sara Bareilles, McCarley’s unique and arresting voice has captivated audiences and critics alike since her debut record dropped.

“Being at South by Southwest was surprising and energizing. I was on top of the world,” McCarley said in a recent interview with The Badger Herald. “I had no idea what to expect. I had never been there as a performer or as a spectator, and I had no record deal, no manager, no lawyer.”

With a Texas twang detectable in her breathy voice, McCarley reflected on the thrills of her first headlining tour with Landon Pigg and the disarming authenticity of her music.

“I think fans appreciate being able to feel like they understand [the music] and feel like they’re a part of something. … It’s kind of crazy how people can interpret things, but I like that you can get several meanings out of one song,” McCarley said.

It was the relatable lyrics and upbeat tempo of the hum-worthy melody of her title track that assured her status as a serious competitor in the boxing ring of the music industry. The song further put her name on the charts when it was featured in the movie “He’s Just Not That Into You” and TV shows such as “Grey’s Anatomy” and “The Hills.”

“TV and film has been such a huge path for new artists. … It’s really given us a chance to be heard. I’d get to that song [in concert] and people would be like, ‘Oh! That’s who sings that song.’ It’s just building an audience one by one, and it’s pretty cool,” McCarley said.

Before headlining her own tour, McCarley performed as part of the Hotel Cafe Tour in 2008 with a hard-hitting, all-female cast including Ingrid Michaelson, Jenny Owens Youngs and Rachael Yamagata, to name a few.

McCarley also toured with Ten out of Tenn, which boasts a collective group of solo artists like Griffin House, K.S. Rhodes and Andy Davis who, together with other artists based out of Nashville, form a collaborative mixture of “Tennessee troubadours.”

“I didn’t grow up in a musical family [and] I didn’t have people exposing all that stuff to me, so I’ve kind of been on my own self-discovery just with the friends I’ve been traveling with. I’ve learned so much about different types of music,” McCarley said.

Although McCarley is no tour virgin, she still approaches it with slight trepidation.

“The more you know about touring, the more pressure you feel. … People’s attention spans are short, money is tight and, as an artist on tour, you have to be very creative. … At each one of your shows, you just really have to make sure you’re doing everything you can to connect with people and be yourself,” McCarley said.

Pigg — her opening act — will be helping her to do just that. Pigg, who plays Ellen Page’s (“Smart People”) love interest in this month’s “Whip It!”, gained notoriety with his single, “Falling In Love At a Coffee Shop.” You may also know the song from an AT&T commercial.

“Landon Pigg is just an amazing new artist. … He has some really emotional and fun songs,” McCarley said.

But, if stirring lyrics about stormy relationships and the inevitable surrender of breakups sound like too much of a “chick” concert for all the dudes who have read this far, fear not. You’re probably thinking this is not worth a Saturday night that could be spent scoping out the honeys on frat row, but there’s something at this concert for you, too.

“I think it’s just a family night of music. … I think it’s an exciting time to get into a new artist and be a part of something that’s happening,” McCarley said.

Now doesn’t that sound like it would go down smoother than a pint of PBR at The Plaza?

Erin McCarley will be performing at the Orpheum Theatre Oct. 3 at 9 p.m. Tickets are $15.