Jon Brion, Largo at the Coronet, November 9, 2023
In October, Jon's show coincided with the first of two Wilco gigs at the Bellwether. I decided to stick with the original plans and have absolutely no regrets. Of course, I jumped on the next show announcement post-haste, and more importantly, I took it as a sign that Jon was back. I don't want to take these shows for granted, but it's good to know that we might be onto the start of something good again.I, for one, like these weeknight gigs. Full disclosure: Airfare is cheaper, and my flexible work schedule is a blessing in this regard. I try to remind myself that I can't make all the shows, but dammit, I might die trying.
As this is only the 3rd show since Jon's return, I can't make any proclamations, but I've seen a pleasant mix of old-school faces in the audience. I guess people are curious when a former fixture stays away for two-plus years.
Onstage we saw a similar array of instruments as last time: vibes, guitars, lots of amps, and pedals on the key-based implements. Several books were also visible before Jon arrived with his usual Guinness. He informed us we were in store for a live soundcheck and started off with moody music, complemented by moody lighting, courtesy of the control booth. I'm not going to guess at what he played or drew from. Any artist I named would only reveal my ignorance. I'll just say it was warm and comforting, like a winter coat.
Still on the piano, he played with the pedals to create a contemplative tune before easing into one of his standards, "Strings That Tie to You." This version was more wistful than the studio track, and he segued into the "Eternal Sunshine Theme."
He immediately asked for requests, and the usual barrage ensued. Full disclosure: My brain hasn't been the sharpest. I blame the early morning flights from that week. I say this because I heard many of the requests, but per normal, I didn't put too much stock in them, as Jon will play what he wants anyway. He said something about needing a bossa nova beat because everything in the '80s used it, and to be frank, that should've been my tip-off. As he started playing on the piano, he asked if anyone knew the first verse and not a soul replied. This is kind of a travesty at Largo, but you can't have ringers every night.
I still didn't recognize the song until Jon furnished the second verse, and shame of shames, he was doing my beloved "Avalon," which comes up on my phone's shuffle frequently and happens to be one of my all-time favorites. At that point, I also remembered the first verse ("Now the party's over/I'm so tired/Then I see you coming/Out of nowhere/Much communication in a motion/Without conversation or a notion"), but that did no one any good. Instead, I mentally kicked myself for a bit before settling in to enjoy the rest of the song, which I don't think I've ever heard him do before. In fact, I've always assumed he was more of an Eno guy than a Ferry guy. I'd love to be proven wrong!
Even better, Jon segued into "To Turn You On," from the same album, and I'll never say no to a Roxy Music rock block.
He continued to ask for requests and picked up a guitar when he decided on the tune. He tuned, put down some loops, and fuzzed it up, and I soon realized he was doing my request for "Same Thing." I know fans love his covers, but at least early in the evening, I like to go with the songs that he's written or at least contribute to. Nerd that I am, I lean toward the older tracks, but then again, it's not like he's officially released any new music. Anyway, we got "Same Thing." I know it as a '90s-era power pop classic, but Jon seemed to lean in another '90s direction with aggressive guitar. He threw in a bunch of riffs from other songs (I heard a touch of "Incense and Peppermint" and the "Peter Gunn Theme"), and I was happy to do my part for the evening.
For the next request, he turned up a disco beat, leading to the one of the flagship songs of the movement. I have actually heard Jon do this one before, and tonight, the crowd enthusiastically sang along to "Staying Alive," including the line about the New York Times. This might've progressed to another song, but if it did, I can't name it.
Jon went back to his catalog for "Knock Yourself Out," which sounded a little like a saloon classic, with its clipping pace. He kept the rhythm with his feet and messed with the time signature to transform the song, as is his wont.
He went back to the guitar for a heavy riff and a Tom Waits-style vocal, all leading up to "When Doves Cry." Once again, the crowd sang along, down to the exclamations. He threw in bits of "Girl from Ipanema" and maybe "Piano Man," along with the Hendrix version of the "Star Spangled Banner."
Jon next sat down at the celeste and played a tiny snippet of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" per an audience request. But his real mission was "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning," which I had to look up after this show. All I can tell you is that this was one of the intimate experiences you can get at few places other than Largo, as Jon crouched over the keys and you couldn't hear a sound from the audience. Spinning around on his seat, he went to the piano and his own "Trial and Error" to complete this keys-based segment.
From there, he walked over to the vibes to honor an earlier audience request: "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." It was as fun and as wonderful as you can imagine.
Jon left shortly, then returned with Sean Watkins and the two hit the classics with Peter and Gordon, then the inevitable Dylan (not a bad thing!). Then Jon closed with a song he said he noticed had the same cadence with a Cole Porter song, and I woudn't have guessed that we'd end up with "Ace of Spades," with Lemmy-style vocals on acoustic guitar.
Setlist
piano
Strings That Tie to You/Eternal Sunshine Theme
God Bless the Child
Avalon/To Turn You On
Same Thing
Staying Alive
Knock Yourself Out
When Doves Cry
In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning
Trial and Error
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Encore
I Go to Pieces *
You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go *
Corrina, Corrina *
Ace of Spades
* = with Sean Watkins
Related shows
» like a dream in the night
