music plays a mind trick
Once again, safely behind a cut,
OH MY GOD. It was BETTER. I say this as a fan, as something that Jamie commented on during the show, and from the mouth of Ben Lambert, sound guy extraodinaire whom I talked to after the show (well, I HAD to, knowing who he was this time and being a fan of his own version of 'Mind Trick'). Jamie's words were 'This has been so special this evening- thank you for really letting us explore and be real musicians tonight', and it was extraordinary.
Once again, setlist with comments, not yet in order. I've edited the last from a post at pointlessnostalgic that sounds reasonable, and if someone posts the one from last night, I'll do the same here.
Photograph- much the same as last night, although now with a slightly more explicit drug reference in place of 'the first night that I tried that stuff'.
Twentysomething- whole song through tonight, still featuring the dramatic cross-stage run after the improv section.
Get Your Way- still rockin, with the same slowed down version directly afterwards. So hot.
7 Days- J explained that this was possibly his favorite of all the songs he's yet written, which surprised me. It's never been a favorite of mine, but I warmed with the story of how it came to be written- a jet lagged Jamie turns on a hotel TV to find a self-help program infomercial and is wildly amused. The song comes soon afterward. Plus, it always charms me when musicians admit to having trouble performing their own work- J claimed he might have trouble remembering it, so I giggled with Geoff when the audience sang along a little louder than they had done on other songs.
Ain't Necessarily So + Sexy Back + Golddigger + Frontin + jam- ok, I admit, I squealed as soon as the Jamie sang the first words to Ain't. He played the song at that very first little gig and signing that I saw in London and I LOVED it and I've been longing for it again ever since. He's got a funky version recorded on 'Pointless Nostalgic,' but it's never been the same as the one I heard. This one was just a few verses with piano whacking as the accompaniment, but it's better than nothing. ;) Then we went into the Justin Timberlake, then into Frontin' again. Now, Friday, you may recall that J asked for a volunteer to come up and freestyle. Saturday, he grabbed Rory and Rory's flugelhorn, and they both jumped down into the crowd. They made their way to the center, cleared a space, and Rory just JAMMED as Jamie danced. SO. HOT. OMG. I couldn't see a thing except what they showed on the screen, but it sounded fanTAStic.
Wind Cries Mary- awesome. This has a lot less improv than you might think hearing it, but that's not a bad thing. The band knows all the little paths to follow now and it soars.
Mind Trick- this song has definitely given me a weakness for electric piano. Never thought I'd say it.
I Can't Get Started- this was great. A simple, lovely version of an old Gershwin ballad.
These Are the Days- forgot to mention, but each night, J led us in two part horn-harmony. Sounded GREAT, and I always love audience participation. This was also revealed to be written by Ben for a video game originally, which amuses me greatly.
Teardrop- yes, Jamie covering Massive Attack. Now, pardon my French, but HOLY SHIT. My jaw was on the FLOOR. J explained at the end that the band had been noodling around with the song that afternoon, and this was the result. GORGEOUS GORGEOUS layering of sound from the band with Jamie on top. CHILLS, people.
Liar, Liar- I LOVE this song. Jamie rather bashfully name dropped that Ben Taylor would be recording a version soon, and I'd love to hear it, but I'd love to hear a proper recorded version of Jamie himself.
London Skies + Brazil jam- still awesome. Jamie continues to change the lyrics from 'winter's day' to 'London day', so I guess he considers that the lyric at this point. *shrug* Doesn't matter, it's just interesting that it's been that way for the last three shows I've seen.
Lover- that's right, for the second time, I got to hear Jamie cover Jeff Buckley live. At this point, my senses kicked in and I used my camera to record the last two thirds of the song in a video file. Unbelievable. The depth of passion Jamie uses to sing these words is incredible.
My Funny Valentine- now, ok, THIS, people. I think I nearly died and went to music heaven. I may well have come THIS close to peeing my pants or swooning. Just Geoff on bass, Rory on muted trumpet, and Jamie singing. Slow, bluesy, MELTINGLY sexy. He let Rory take a long solo, then Geoff, and when he stepped out to sing the words again without a mic, I could barely breathe. His VOICE, just the swoops and curves it took through the ultra-familiar melody transformed the song. I can't possibly describe it- you know the feeling, when you realise that you're experiencing something that nothing will top again. I will ALWAYS hear this in the back of my mind when that song is played.
I Get a Kick- fantastic, and featuring 'I'm sure that if I sniffed evenoneillegalline, it would bore me terrifically too' for the second night. I think that before he got started on the song in his usual fashion, he played a boogie-woogie style version which was quite fun. Jamie is such a funny, charming guy, and I love how well it comes across in his music.
21st Century Kid- heartfelt and aching and beautiful.
High and Dry + Singing in the Rain- I expected High and Dry this time, but because of the awesomeness of this night, J took the song into a different place. Instead of the normal audience harmonies at the end, he invented something off the cuff to move into Singing in the Rain. He floats the words above the audience, singing right at the front of the stage without the mic and the band singing with the audience behind him. He let it all wash over him for a few moments more before walking back to the piano and POUNDING out the ending to High and Dry in absolute Jamie style.
Encores!
All at Sea- prefaced with the comment, 'Sing along! If you don't sing on this one, we're never coming back!'
I Could Have Danced All Night- this one was special as well. At the point where J normally exhorts the audience to jump with their hands in the air, he instead had a brilliant idea. The last 20 years had introduced a new device into our lives, the mobile phone. He asked everyone in the audience who had one to take it out, turn it on, and hold it in the air as they cut all the lights. On the count of four, we lifted them up, and then on Jamie's mark, jumped as if our lives depended on it.
For all that I've just spent an hour typing this up, believe me when I say it was beyond words. Maybe Jamie's not for everyone (though I honestly can't understand how anyone could see him and not get caught into the bright burning of his performance and insatiable joy), but for me, I don't really see it getting any better than this. Josh Ritter, the quite good opening act, cajoled the audience to sing along on the chorus of his final song by joking that, If you do, it might be the pinnacle of Western Civilization. Might be a bit of a letdown after tonight, but for tonight, it'd be pretty cool, right?
Yeah, it was.
OH MY GOD. It was BETTER. I say this as a fan, as something that Jamie commented on during the show, and from the mouth of Ben Lambert, sound guy extraodinaire whom I talked to after the show (well, I HAD to, knowing who he was this time and being a fan of his own version of 'Mind Trick'). Jamie's words were 'This has been so special this evening- thank you for really letting us explore and be real musicians tonight', and it was extraordinary.
Once again, setlist with comments, not yet in order. I've edited the last from a post at pointlessnostalgic that sounds reasonable, and if someone posts the one from last night, I'll do the same here.
Photograph- much the same as last night, although now with a slightly more explicit drug reference in place of 'the first night that I tried that stuff'.
Twentysomething- whole song through tonight, still featuring the dramatic cross-stage run after the improv section.
Get Your Way- still rockin, with the same slowed down version directly afterwards. So hot.
7 Days- J explained that this was possibly his favorite of all the songs he's yet written, which surprised me. It's never been a favorite of mine, but I warmed with the story of how it came to be written- a jet lagged Jamie turns on a hotel TV to find a self-help program infomercial and is wildly amused. The song comes soon afterward. Plus, it always charms me when musicians admit to having trouble performing their own work- J claimed he might have trouble remembering it, so I giggled with Geoff when the audience sang along a little louder than they had done on other songs.
Ain't Necessarily So + Sexy Back + Golddigger + Frontin + jam- ok, I admit, I squealed as soon as the Jamie sang the first words to Ain't. He played the song at that very first little gig and signing that I saw in London and I LOVED it and I've been longing for it again ever since. He's got a funky version recorded on 'Pointless Nostalgic,' but it's never been the same as the one I heard. This one was just a few verses with piano whacking as the accompaniment, but it's better than nothing. ;) Then we went into the Justin Timberlake, then into Frontin' again. Now, Friday, you may recall that J asked for a volunteer to come up and freestyle. Saturday, he grabbed Rory and Rory's flugelhorn, and they both jumped down into the crowd. They made their way to the center, cleared a space, and Rory just JAMMED as Jamie danced. SO. HOT. OMG. I couldn't see a thing except what they showed on the screen, but it sounded fanTAStic.
Wind Cries Mary- awesome. This has a lot less improv than you might think hearing it, but that's not a bad thing. The band knows all the little paths to follow now and it soars.
Mind Trick- this song has definitely given me a weakness for electric piano. Never thought I'd say it.
I Can't Get Started- this was great. A simple, lovely version of an old Gershwin ballad.
These Are the Days- forgot to mention, but each night, J led us in two part horn-harmony. Sounded GREAT, and I always love audience participation. This was also revealed to be written by Ben for a video game originally, which amuses me greatly.
Teardrop- yes, Jamie covering Massive Attack. Now, pardon my French, but HOLY SHIT. My jaw was on the FLOOR. J explained at the end that the band had been noodling around with the song that afternoon, and this was the result. GORGEOUS GORGEOUS layering of sound from the band with Jamie on top. CHILLS, people.
Liar, Liar- I LOVE this song. Jamie rather bashfully name dropped that Ben Taylor would be recording a version soon, and I'd love to hear it, but I'd love to hear a proper recorded version of Jamie himself.
London Skies + Brazil jam- still awesome. Jamie continues to change the lyrics from 'winter's day' to 'London day', so I guess he considers that the lyric at this point. *shrug* Doesn't matter, it's just interesting that it's been that way for the last three shows I've seen.
Lover- that's right, for the second time, I got to hear Jamie cover Jeff Buckley live. At this point, my senses kicked in and I used my camera to record the last two thirds of the song in a video file. Unbelievable. The depth of passion Jamie uses to sing these words is incredible.
My Funny Valentine- now, ok, THIS, people. I think I nearly died and went to music heaven. I may well have come THIS close to peeing my pants or swooning. Just Geoff on bass, Rory on muted trumpet, and Jamie singing. Slow, bluesy, MELTINGLY sexy. He let Rory take a long solo, then Geoff, and when he stepped out to sing the words again without a mic, I could barely breathe. His VOICE, just the swoops and curves it took through the ultra-familiar melody transformed the song. I can't possibly describe it- you know the feeling, when you realise that you're experiencing something that nothing will top again. I will ALWAYS hear this in the back of my mind when that song is played.
I Get a Kick- fantastic, and featuring 'I'm sure that if I sniffed evenoneillegalline, it would bore me terrifically too' for the second night. I think that before he got started on the song in his usual fashion, he played a boogie-woogie style version which was quite fun. Jamie is such a funny, charming guy, and I love how well it comes across in his music.
21st Century Kid- heartfelt and aching and beautiful.
High and Dry + Singing in the Rain- I expected High and Dry this time, but because of the awesomeness of this night, J took the song into a different place. Instead of the normal audience harmonies at the end, he invented something off the cuff to move into Singing in the Rain. He floats the words above the audience, singing right at the front of the stage without the mic and the band singing with the audience behind him. He let it all wash over him for a few moments more before walking back to the piano and POUNDING out the ending to High and Dry in absolute Jamie style.
Encores!
All at Sea- prefaced with the comment, 'Sing along! If you don't sing on this one, we're never coming back!'
I Could Have Danced All Night- this one was special as well. At the point where J normally exhorts the audience to jump with their hands in the air, he instead had a brilliant idea. The last 20 years had introduced a new device into our lives, the mobile phone. He asked everyone in the audience who had one to take it out, turn it on, and hold it in the air as they cut all the lights. On the count of four, we lifted them up, and then on Jamie's mark, jumped as if our lives depended on it.
For all that I've just spent an hour typing this up, believe me when I say it was beyond words. Maybe Jamie's not for everyone (though I honestly can't understand how anyone could see him and not get caught into the bright burning of his performance and insatiable joy), but for me, I don't really see it getting any better than this. Josh Ritter, the quite good opening act, cajoled the audience to sing along on the chorus of his final song by joking that, If you do, it might be the pinnacle of Western Civilization. Might be a bit of a letdown after tonight, but for tonight, it'd be pretty cool, right?
Yeah, it was.