SOUNDTRACK: JENNY LEWIS-Tiny Desk Concert #950 (February 24, 2020).
I was lucky enough to see Jenny Lewis open for Death Cab for Cutie. I really enjoyed her set and how much fun they all seemed to be having. Although I guess my version of her show paled in comparison to her headlining show:
Having seen Jenny Lewis’ recent concert spectacle, with its Las Vegas sparkle — complete with a multi-level stage — I loved the contrast her Tiny Desk Concert provided.
There was certainly spectacle, but maybe it was the venue (darker than it should have been) that made it less Las Vegas and more Atlantic City. But either way, it’s obvious that this Tiny Desk is very different from that set.
Jenny arrived at NPR with just her acoustic guitar and bandmates Emily Elbert, who sang and played guitar, and Anna Butterss on upright bass and vocals. Stripped of all the glitz, it was the words that found their way to my heart. A consummate storyteller, going as far back to her days with her band Rilo Kiley, Jenny’s words have comforted and inspired so many.
She sings two of her three Tiny Desk songs from her fourth solo record, On the Line. These are tough breakup songs, though she redirects all the pain into thoughtful fun.
Jenny plays guitar on “Rabbit Hole” and that upright bass adds some great low notes to Jenny’s high vocals.
She even turned “Rabbit Hole” into an NPR sing-along
The crowd very willingly sings along–except for one person who looks defiantly at the camera instead.
For “Do Si Do” Jenny puts down her guitar and picks up a tambourine. The low bass notes that start the song are almost shockingly loud and rumbling. There’s a few very high backing vocals in the song which are all provided by Emily Elbert (I especially like the Ooh ooh ooh and wonder if she does them on record as well).
The blurb also includes this line
and [she] gave us all a Hot Pockets surprise. You’ll have to watch for that one.
That comes when she messes up “Just One Of The Guys.” (or J-O-O–T-G). I’ve thought that that song sounded really familiar, but never in the way she suggests.
They (thankfully) start the song from the top. It’s my favorite song of hers and I’m glad to get it all the way through.
The original of this song is super catchy and this quieter version (no electric guitar melodies mid-song) is just as catchy. Elbert also does a nifty solo (very high up the neck) on the acoustic guitar.
This is another wonderful Tiny Desk Concert that once again I am going to complain is waaay too short. One of these days, artists I’ve heard of will get more than fifteen minutes.
[READ: March 15, 2020] Investigators
I have loved everything that John Patrick Green has done–Hippopotamister, Kitten Construction Company and now Investigators. His humor is excellent and his artwork is so clean and enjoyable.
The premise of this book is pretty much based upon the fact that Gators is the last sound in Investigators. What I mean is that this book is chock full of word play–some of it clever, some of it really dumb and all of it very very funny.
Mango and Brash are the top agents and they are on the case (Brash: “Hey get offa my case!” while Mango stands on Brash’s suitcase). The case contains a mustache and chef hats. Turns out that chef Gustavo Mustachio is missing. Gustavo is the guy on all the pizza boxes and is the chef behind some of the best cupcakes.
There’s a giant creature who has taken him and is demanding that Gustavo cook something perfect. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 