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Artist
site: jonathabrooke.com
Jonatha Brooke
Newport Music
Hall in Columbus Ohio
April 22,
2001
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With
Sarah McLachlan's sweet smile and Emm Gryner's glam, Jonatha
Brooke is one ass-kicking musical package. Sunday night she
played at Newport Music Hall in Columbus, Ohio just across the
street from the Ohio State University. While the venue left
a lot to be desired, Jonatha more than made up for it.
Kim Richey opened, and while I wasn't familiar with her music,
she left a great first impression. She reminded me a bit of
Shawn Colvin and had a couple drops of Patty Griffin and Jewel
in her voice. She had the attention of the audience the whole
time. I think I speak for everyone when I say that I was definitely
impressed with her.
Then it was Jonatha's turn, and once she stepped on stage the
audience started their award-winning performance, and I quote:
"you guys, this audience, you take the cake." Why
thank you, we certainly tried.
She was decked out in a black top and a red ankle-length leather
skirt and topped off with a Wonder Woman wristband. She's definitely
read up on rocker-grrl attire and looked fabulous.
I really had no idea what I was in for when I bought the tickets
for this concert. I just knew that I love all the CDs of hers
that I have, and with the urging of a friend, I shelled out
the $60 (thanks to Ticketmaster for all their lovely little
surcharges) and figured I would most likely not be disappointed.
That is an understatement. Pardon my language, but she totally
kicked my ass with her performance. Her albums don't come close
to doing her justice. There are some artists who sound absolutely
great in the studio and on their albums but are a thousand times
greater live. Some are just destined to be great live performers.
Jonatha is definitely one of them.
She played a lovely mix of songs from all the great albums:
Plumb (with The Story), 10 Cent Wings, Jonatha Brooke Live,
and of course her new album Steady Pull. While my impeccably
horrible memory doesn't allow me to list the complete set-list
in perfect order, I can list the songs she played from each
album*:
From Plumb: West Point, Is This All?
10 Cent Wings: Crumbs, Because I Told You So, Blood From a Stone,
Glass Half Empty, Genius or a Fool
Jonatha Brooke Live: At the Still Point
Steady Pull: Linger, How Deep is Your Love, Red Dress, Steady
Pull, Your House, Digging, Out of Your Mind, I'll Take It From
Here
*I'm sure I'm forgetting at least a couple and I apologize.
I'll confess, like any album, there are always a couple songs
that don't always stand out from the rest. I liked How Deep
is Your Love, but not as much as the other songs on Steady Pull.
After the way her and her band performed it Sunday night, though,
it's now one of my favorites. There was just so much energy
in it, everyone went crazy. I'll Take it From Here was also
particularly wonderful. And much to my delight, she played Because
I Told You So, a personal favorite, during one of the encores.
When she started talking about her song, Red Dress, she stopped,
looked down at herself and said "I can't believe I wore
one!"… another funny little happening was her story
about the origin of Genius or a Fool. Apparently she wore some
interesting bowling shoes to a performance where a member of
U2 was in attendance and he didn't exactly react in the most
flattering way. We still love you though Jonatha, bowling shoes
and all.
It should definitely be noted that she played three encores,
much to my surprise. As this was my first time seeing her, I'm
not sure if that's usually the case, but even so, it was great
nonetheless. Every time she'd come back out she'd be blushing
and would have the biggest smile on her face. Of course I'm
sure in her head she was just thinking how much she just wanted
all of us crazy college kids to leave already, but she played
wonderfully again regardless.
I know this review doesn't even come close to telling how great
this show was, as always the best way to understand is to see
her for yourself, which I strongly urge everyone to do. All
I can say is it's worth every penny and you'll be thinking about
it for at least a week after, she's that great. |
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