Live Review: Jenny Lewis- Joy'All Tour 2023

Jenny Lewis - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Jenny Lewis - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Writing and Photography by Bobby Talamine
Edited by Fiza Javid
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The Salt Shed Chicago
Fri 7/7/23

Jenny Lewis is finally back in town, at The Salt Shed in Chicago, on a whirlwind North American tour, celebrating her latest release, "Joy'All".
The album is well represented setlist wise, as well as it should.
Terrific and captivating songwriting, so heartfelt, and true to her roots, and celebrating country swing, for lack of a better term.

To set the mood:
Lots of fire engine red throughout the stage.
Fire engine red vertical and shiny striping backdrops, to the ceiling- like twenty feet in height to the stage floor.
Fire engine red carpeting.
Fire graphics on a couple of the floor amps.
Lots of fire engine red lighting.

All of this done up with class, not looking dated and schmaltzy.
The overall look and feel- mid seventies vibe, back when country music had some swing, but with an overtone of tough to the bone lyrics depending on the mood and the honky tonk, and the crowd therein.

One key piece to all of this is what's on top of her electric Rhodes piano- a landline phone with chord attached.

But outside of that, Jenny has always immersed herself deeply through past releases, whether with Rilo Kiley back in the day, or her varied and cool solo albums, taking honest twists and turns that are true to her heart without wasting away through "dialed in" content.

Jenny just writes and writes and writes, always willing to listen to suggestions, always willing to risk to try new things, even in the case of simplifying things when recording.
I bring this up in regards to "Joy"All", and how the overall sound and feel is not overly complex and dragged down- it's just the opposite, especially when hearing the songs live, with added punch from that band of hers.

Opening with "Psychos", a syrupy cool throwback of sorts, with a lazy mid seventies mellow feel, but addictive as all get out.
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The build up setlist wise just flows easily from there, with a backup band that is perfectly well suited for the intricate and mellow vibe, pushing and pulling merrily along to "Do Si Do", and "Just One of the Guys".

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Jenny Lewis - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Jenny Lewis - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Jenny Lewis - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Jenny Lewis - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

But it's the new material that commands your attention, such as "Puppy and a Truck", and especially "Giddy Up", another song that inspires and invokes a Carole King vibe of solid music storytelling.

That her influences on "Joy'All" are varied and solid, and far and wide- all of it is Jenny channeling her inner feelings, and writing so honestly, whether exploring relationships, and simply living in this complicated world while traversing your mid to late forties.
Older and supremely wiser- that's Jenny Lewis.

That she digs playing with her band shows throughout her set, with big grins and the occasional laugh, some extended foot kicks to dig into the beat, and letting loose with the occasional hip swing and shake.

She's having a grand old time up there and diving deep into her songs, with some cool covers to boot: like during the encore and opening with "Silver Lining", a Rilo Kiley cover on her acoustic, or even midway through her set with "Lust for Life", a Girls cover song.
But man, the honky tonk swing vibe throughout her set- just so damn addictive.
She really means it, when she conveys joy, and wants others to get in on the joy.
The Salt Shed crowd truly were in it, smiles and whoops and hollers and all.
The Jenny Lewis party just kept upping the ante as the night unfolded.

I for one was grateful to be in on the action- documenting the coolness of it all- simple setup as far as presentation, and yet- when you think of it, replaying the tapes in your head- it's anything but.

A fittingly tight and well rounded show- like a cool summer breeze.
From July 10th to July 25th- you have ten chances to catch her live, ending on the 25th in New Orleans.
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Highly highly recommended.

Bobby Talamine - JBTV Music Television Chicago

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Jenny Lewis, Joy'All, The Salt Shed, JBTV Music Television, Fiza Javid, Bobby Talamine