Concert review « Knox Road

Kate Miller-Heidke @ 9:30 Club

I really didn’t want to enjoy Kate Miller-Heidke‘s 45-minute set last night in Washington, D.C. My other concert reviews on this site have been full of praise and I wanted to write a scathing review; certainly the Australian’s quirky pop, which I had only limited exposure to prior to the show, couldn’t win me […]

Tom

Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan @ Rock and Roll Hotel

“What is she? Some kind of magician?” my wife inquired as Isobel Campbell shaked, rattled, and pounded several unique percussion tools during “Back Burner.” Indeed, she is. As the songwriter in her unlikely indie-folk collaboration with enigmatic Mark Lanegan, Campbell has masterfully orchestrated the musical backdrop to highlight perfect vocal constrasts. Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan put their talents on display Friday night at the Rock and Roll Hotel in Washington, D.C.

From the subtle opener “We Die and See Beauty Reign” to the undeniably-Lanegan-blues closer “Wedding Dress,” I was transfixed by the complementary vocals, almost entirely ignoring the more-than-capable backing band. Lanegan took the lead for standout foot-tapper “You Won’t Let Me Down Again” and the duo put its third record Hawk on display on the sultry first single “Come Undone.” Lanegan mesmerized the crowd with “The Circus is Leaving Town” and Campbell captured the essence of Hope Sandoval‘s sound with “To Hell and Back Again.”

Opener Willy Mason displayed talent well beyond his 25 years during his mid-set duets with Campbell, but by the ethereal “Back Burner,” it was clear that Lanegan and Campbell have superior vocal chemistry. Lanegan may not have deviated much from his badass demeanor – a sort of permanent eyes-closed scowl as he channeled every emotion – but he garnered the most laughs from the half silent, half chatty crowd after a false start of “Come Undone.” Feedback plagued the track, prompting Campbell to halt and unsuccessfully attempt to communicate the problem to the soundboard. Lanegan’s description: “Robotic. Metallic. Beautiful.”

Lanegan otherwise was a man of few words and smiles whereas Campbell was chatty, politely asking for silence (“…but we’re happy!”) for each of Mason’s duets and cracking up during “Cool Water” about another band member’s “ding dong” joke from earlier in the day. The crowd didn’t mind. With three solid records and now memorable U.S. shows to their name, Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan had earned it.

[Photo courtesy of Hartzine.]

Setlist after the jump.

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Tom

Justin Jones @ 9:30 Club

My first impression of Justin Jones is that he – like this concert review – is the guy who shows up late to the party. Jones, a Virginia/D.C. singer-songwriter who is the first signed to 9:30 Records, a new label launched by 9:30 Club co-owner Seth Hurwitz, casually walked on stage to tune […]

Tom

She & Him @ 9:30 Club

[Ed. Note: Tom is the newest contributor to Knox Road. He’ll be posting concert reviews and the like. He’s usually pretty cool.]

To the typical outsider, actress Zooey Deschanel (“She”) is the main draw of the indie folk duo She & Him. At Wednesday night’s sold out concert at the legendary 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., however, singer-songwriter M. Ward (“Him”), no stranger to the venue, was just as much the celebrity. Ward’s tracks “Magic Trick” and “Rave On” (originally by Sonny West) drew some of the loudest cheers of the night and fans shouted his name for every solo and singing part (“Ridin’ In My Car,” “You Really Got A Hold On Me”). Matt Ward’s cool rock star demeanor contrasted with Zooey’s charming but inconsistent display of excitement (i.e. jumping up and down and beating on a tambourine for “I Was Made For You”), anxiety (deer-in-the-headlights glares at times), introspection, and admiration for her fans, bandmates, and backup singers, the Chapin Sisters.

The group stuttered on a few occasions early with Ward botching a couple of notes and Deschanel almost shrieky and hoarse on “Change Is Hard” and “Thieves,” but they quickly settled in with a gorgeous “Me and You” as everyone chipped in on vocals and eventually had the crowd clapping and dancing to a debut cover of the Beach Boys “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” Single “In the Sun” was the big crowd pleaser of the night, and “Sweet Darlin'” served as a fitting, energetic closer. The duo plowed through most of both Volume One and Volume Two in its 80+ minute set, the only arguable omission being “Home,” a standout track on Volume Two. Deschanel’s vocals were exceptional at times, and all aspects of her performance were much improved from the band’s 2008 set at the Virgin Mobile Fest in Baltimore; however, the frontwoman seemed most comfortable when Ward joined her on vocals for “Ridin’ In My Car” and the Chapin Sisters (also the opening band) complemented. As a solo artist, Deschanel may still be on her way to consistently displaying the swagger to command an audience, but She & Him (emphasis on the &) have become a formidable force in indie rock.

[Photo courtesy of Kyle Gustafson, Washington Post]

Setlist after the jump.

Continue reading She & Him @ 9:30 Club →