From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2008 #149 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk Unsubscribe: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe Website: http://jonimitchell.com JMDL Digest Tuesday, July 29 2008 Volume 2008 : Number 149 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Re: very strange painting of Joni Mitchell ["nosnivel@netvision.net.il" ] Re: Hawaii and JoniFests (njc) [Bob Muller ] Re: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music [Victor Johnson ] Re: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music [camus8887@aol.com] Re: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music [Jerry Notaro ] Re: guitar solo quiz (njc) [Bob.Muller@Fluor.com] Fwd: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music ["T Peckham" ] RE: guitar solo quiz (njc) ["Richard Flynn" ] RE: guitar solo quiz (njc) ["Richard Flynn" ] NJC On Wisconsin! [Bob Muller ] She & Him - You Turn Me On, I'm A Radio [Bob Muller ] Re: She & Him - You Turn Me On, I'm A Radio [Victor Johnson ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 05:44:20 -0400 From: "nosnivel@netvision.net.il" Subject: Re: very strange painting of Joni Mitchell I think the eyes and nose are okay, the problem is with the cheekbones on down. Mark L. Levinson nosnivel@netvision.net.il - -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web.com - Microsoft. Exchange solutions from a leading provider - http://link.mail2web.com/Business/Exchange ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 03:15:43 -0700 (PDT) From: Bob Muller Subject: Re: Hawaii and JoniFests (njc) Thanks for that, Kakki - happy hunting and enjoy some well-deserved down time. Bob NP: Ani, "Studying Stones" (new one coming in September from her - yay!) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 06:53:03 -0400 From: Victor Johnson Subject: Re: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music I saw the Black Crowes last year and they put on an incredible show...just pure rocknroll, just sublime. Going to see them in October with Phil and Friends. Yeah, I don't really get this list either. He would argue that Joni's last good album was 1975??? Leaving out my favorite Hejira, DJRD, Shadows and Light, etc... I definitely have to disagree! Victor NP: Beck "Already Dead" On Jul 27, 2008, at 10:01 PM, Monika Bogdanowicz wrote: > Joni content indeed included but wrongfully so: > http://entertainment.msn.com/ > (Click on Madonna's image to go to the list) > I also HIGHLY object to the Who being on here. What garbage. > -Mon, who usually doesn't get angered by lists but this one really > is stupid ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 04:44:29 -0700 (PDT) From: Em Subject: Re: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music sceeeee-rew them for suggesting that ANYONE stop making music. - --- On Sun, 7/27/08, Monika Bogdanowicz wrote: From: Monika Bogdanowicz Subject: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music To: "Joni people!" Date: Sunday, July 27, 2008, 10:01 PM Joni content indeed included but wrongfully so: http://entertainment.msn.com/ (Click on Madonna's image to go to the list) I also HIGHLY object to the Who being on here. What garbage. - -Mon, who usually doesn't get angered by lists but this one really is stupid ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 07:49:28 -0400 From: camus8887@aol.com Subject: Re: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music The guy's absurd and?comes off as?extremely superficial to me. Truly, Jeannie - -----Original Message----- From: T Peckham To: Monika Bogdanowicz ; Joni people! Sent: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:17 am Subject: Re: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music Yep, this guy is way off base on more than just Joni. But here's a sort of ironic twist: check out what else he's written about her. (You'll also find his contact email and his blog.) Seattle Joniphiles may recognize his name. www.thestranger.com/seattle/Author?oid=969 Now, check out a NYTimes blurb from when he was doing a reading from his book in 2007, I think. www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=152244 Anyone here read his little tome on Court & Spark? I can't imagine someone who claims any understanding of the artist and her works writing such a silly piece of detritus for MSN Entertainment. Maybe he needed the extra bucks. Twerp. Terra On 7/27/08, Monika wrote: > > Joni content indeed included but wrongfully so: > What garbage. > -Mon, who usually doesn't get angered by lists but this one really is > stupid > - -- Note to any and all govt. agencies who might be looking in: You can kiss my sweet ass. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:03:20 -0400 From: Jerry Notaro Subject: Re: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music Does anyone have another link to read this? When I try it MSN asks me to log in and I can't get access to it. Thanks. Jerry ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:15:51 +0200 From: Moni Kellermann Subject: Re: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music Wie Jerry Notaro so vortrefflich formulierte: > Does anyone have another link to read this? When I try it MSN asks me to log > in and I can't get access to it. Thanks. http://music.msn.com/music/photos/enough-already/ moni k. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:23:11 -0400 From: Jerry Notaro Subject: Re: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music Thanks, Moni. But it is still asking me to sign in. Jerry > Wie Jerry Notaro so vortrefflich formulierte: >> Does anyone have another link to read this? When I try it MSN asks me to log >> in and I can't get access to it. Thanks. > > http://music.msn.com/music/photos/enough-already/ > > > moni k. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:05:39 -0400 From: camus8887@aol.com Subject: Re: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music Even the suggestion of the title is absurd. The audacity of this man to come out with such a ridiculous notion about?artists who should retire from the music scene?is outlandish. Why? And of course, the pictures on the MSN article-list highlight the age of the artists and basically this so-called author did a woozy of choosing the worst angles possible to try to sell his absurd mentality. Why in the world he would think?this about Joni and others is beyond my comprehension. He?shall?soon be too old, too,?to be writing/playing anymore as a so called, "journalist" or "musician," if that's the case, if nonsense doesn't do him in first. He has a book with the title, "The Stranger," like Albert Camus' book. Isn't there some sort of rule about using same titles? Just the thought of any comparison of this guy's writing?to that of with Albert Camus' is bothersome to me. Anyway, that MSN blog is?simply commercialism and part of it's plague and I don't doubt that Joni jealousies played a huge role on this ridiculous write-up. ? Someone jealous of Joni must have bought and sold this guy out to spew this absurd garbage out there in la-la commercial-land. Truly, Jeannie PS: Too many Fellini circuses for me... ? - -----Original Message----- From: Em To: Joni people! ; Monika Bogdanowicz Sent: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 6:44 am Subject: Re: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music sceeeee-rew them for suggesting that ANYONE stop making music. http://entertainment.msn.com/ (Click on Madonna's image to go to the list) I also HIGHLY object to the Who being on here. What garbage. - -Mon, who usually doesn't get angered by lists but this one really is stupid ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:09:55 -0400 From: camus8887@aol.com Subject: Re: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music I had to un-do the pop-up blocker and then refreshed the screen to get out of that sign-up page. Jeannie - -----Original Message----- From: Jerry Notaro To: Joni List Sent: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 7:03 am Subject: Re: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music Does anyone have another link to read this? When I try it MSN asks me to log in and I can't get access to it. Thanks. Jerry ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:16:45 -0400 From: "Richard Flynn" Subject: RE: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music Everyone else liked this guy's book on Court & Spark, but I thought it was shit written by a little shit. I feel vindicated. - -----Original Message----- From: owner-joni@smoe.org [mailto:owner-joni@smoe.org] On Behalf Of camus8887@aol.com Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 3:06 PM To: emzdogz@yahoo.com; joni@smoe.org; motitan75@yahoo.com Subject: Re: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music Even the suggestion of the title is absurd. The audacity of this man to come out with such a ridiculous notion about?artists who should retire from the music scene?is outlandish. Why? And of course, the pictures on the MSN article-list highlight the age of the artists and basically this so-called author did a woozy of choosing the worst angles possible to try to sell his absurd mentality. Why in the world he would think?this about Joni and others is beyond my comprehension. He?shall?soon be too old, too,?to be writing/playing anymore as a so called, "journalist" or "musician," if that's the case, if nonsense doesn't do him in first. He has a book with the title, "The Stranger," like Albert Camus' book. Isn't there some sort of rule about using same titles? Just the thought of any comparison of this guy's writing?to that of with Albert Camus' is bothersome to me. Anyway, that MSN blog is?simply commercialism and part of it's plague and I don't doubt that Joni jealousies played a huge role on this ridiculous write-up. ? Someone jealous of Joni must have bought and sold this guy out to spew this absurd garbage out there in la-la commercial-land. Truly, Jeannie PS: Too many Fellini circuses for me... ? - -----Original Message----- From: Em To: Joni people! ; Monika Bogdanowicz Sent: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 6:44 am Subject: Re: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music sceeeee-rew them for suggesting that ANYONE stop making music. http://entertainment.msn.com/ (Click on Madonna's image to go to the list) I also HIGHLY object to the Who being on here. What garbage. - -Mon, who usually doesn't get angered by lists but this one really is stupid ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:24:18 -0400 From: Victor Johnson Subject: Re: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music On Jul 28, 2008, at 3:05 PM, camus8887@aol.com wrote: > > He has a book with the title, "The Stranger," like Albert Camus' book. > > Isn't there some sort of rule about using same titles? > Titles, names, or short phrases/expressions can not be copyrighted. In some cases, a name/title might be trademarked (ex. Lord of the Rings) but that is a different matter. I could write a book today and title it "The Stranger" if I so desired. Particularly in music, it happens often that a song will have the same title as a song by a completely different artist. For example. Stranger in a Strange Land, is the name of songs by Triumph, U2. Leon Russell, Phil Ochs, Iron Maiden (they are all completely unrelated) and also the name of a book by Robert Heinlein, also unrelated. Victor ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:24:30 -0400 From: camus8887@aol.com Subject: Re: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music Now I have question marks plaguing my sent e-mails from this AOL e-mail account. What's up with that? Jeannie (with a big boo-hoo that's going away slowly but surely) Subject: Re: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music I had to un-do the pop-up blocker and then refreshed the screen to get out of that sign-up page. Jeannie - -----Original Message----- From: Jerry Notaro To: Joni List Sent: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 7:03 am Subject: Re: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music Does anyone have another link to read this? When I try it MSN asks me to log in and I can't get access to it. Thanks. Jerry ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:45:11 -0400 From: Bob.Muller@Fluor.com Subject: RE: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music I enjoyed the book, but I was puzzled by the last chapter or so when he basically used his praise of C&S (nothing wrong with that to be sure) as proof of why everything she did after that sucked. I didn't see any point in that part in the context of what the topic of the book was supposed to be. Speaking of Joni books, I'm enjoying the Whitesell book ("The Music Of Joni Mitchell) too - it's slow going, not exactly a Dan Brown page-turner and requires lots of focus and a pretty good handle on music theory, but it's certainly a very intelligently-written book by someone who clearly is a deep admirer of Joni's ENTIRE body of work. Bob NP: The Postal Service, "We Will Become Silhouettes" - ------------------------------------------------------------ The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain proprietary, business-confidential and/or privileged material. If you are not the intended recipient of this message you are hereby notified that any use, review, retransmission, dissemination, distribution, reproduction or any action taken in reliance upon this message is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer. Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender and may not necessarily reflect the views of the company. - ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:52:50 +0100 From: "joe farrell" Subject: re:10 artists who should stop making music anyone who can seriously suggest "Shine" is unlistenable just isn't listening. this piece was rubbish. regards, joe. np: Shine ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:53:16 -0400 From: Bob.Muller@Fluor.com Subject: Re: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music Hence "Both Sides Now" by Sammy Hagar. Would you believe there's even a "Last Time I Saw Richard" that's NOT a Joni cover? Makes it that much more challenging to uncover them. Bob NP: Tom Petty, "The Golden Rose" - ------------------------------------------------------------ The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain proprietary, business-confidential and/or privileged material. If you are not the intended recipient of this message you are hereby notified that any use, review, retransmission, dissemination, distribution, reproduction or any action taken in reliance upon this message is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer. Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender and may not necessarily reflect the views of the company. - ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:25:34 -0400 From: Bob.Muller@Fluor.com Subject: re:10 artists who should stop making music I agree 100%, Joe - after all, the album did win a Grammy & a Juno. Sometimes these writers will put together a piece like this JUST to elicit a response and create mail. On another note, here's a quiz that everyone should make a perfect score on. Fess up if you didn't. http://mentalfloss.com/quiz/quiz.php?q=68 Bob NP: Tom Waits, "Shiny Things" - ------------------------------------------------------------ The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain proprietary, business-confidential and/or privileged material. If you are not the intended recipient of this message you are hereby notified that any use, review, retransmission, dissemination, distribution, reproduction or any action taken in reliance upon this message is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer. Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender and may not necessarily reflect the views of the company. - ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:47:46 -0400 From: Victor Johnson Subject: guitar solo quiz (njc) 16 out of 16!!! fun quiz.... On Jul 28, 2008, at 4:25 PM, Bob.Muller@Fluor.com wrote: > > > http://mentalfloss.com/quiz/quiz.php?q=68 > > Bob > > NP: Tom Waits, "Shiny Things" ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:01:51 -0400 From: Bob.Muller@Fluor.com Subject: Re: guitar solo quiz (njc) <16 out of 16!!! fun quiz....> Must be why I struggled with Chemistry & Physics at NC State...no audio. Bob NP: Porcupine Tree, "Way Out Of Here" - ------------------------------------------------------------ The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain proprietary, business-confidential and/or privileged material. If you are not the intended recipient of this message you are hereby notified that any use, review, retransmission, dissemination, distribution, reproduction or any action taken in reliance upon this message is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer. Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender and may not necessarily reflect the views of the company. - ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:13:53 -0500 From: "T Peckham" Subject: Fwd: 10 Artists Who Should Stop Making Music On 7/28/08, camus8887@aol.com wrote: > > "Even the suggestion of the title is absurd." I agree, and also what Em said; telling musicians to stop making music is like telling Republicans to stop lying: it ain't gonna happen. :-P "He has a book with the title, "The Stranger," like Albert Camus' book. > Isn't there some sort of rule about using same titles?" Erm, much as I've enjoyed the discussion about title copyright, I must point out that Nelson writes for a newspaper called "The Stranger" in Seattle. (Hence my comment that the Seattle-ites on the list might be familiar with his scribbling.) :-) Terra From: Em > "sceeeee-rew them for suggesting that ANYONE stop making music." > > > - -- Note to any and all govt. agencies who might be looking in: You can kiss my sweet ass. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:21:02 -0500 From: "T Peckham" Subject: Re: Joni live at the Target Center - Minneapolis, MN 10.23.98 On 7/26/08, Bob Muller wrote: > > > disgusting but were very tasty),> > Doesn't sounds disgusting to me...I love me some cheese curds, nice & > squeaky. Hey Bob, ever been to Wisconsin?? ;-) I have a feeling (having been dragged kicking and screaming to the Minnesota State Fair once) that those cheese curds were coated with cornmeal or somesuch and deep fried. Kinda ruins the squeaky part. LOL And a belated big THANK YOU for the concert download. Ya do good work! Terra - -- Note to any and all govt. agencies who might be looking in: You can kiss my sweet ass. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:53:24 -0400 From: Michael Paz Subject: Re: Hawaii and JoniFests (njc) Sigh! Love Paz (in Santa Fe New Mexico) Michael Paz michael@thepazgroup.com Tour Manager Preservation Hall Jazz Band http://www.preservationhall.com On Jul 28, 2008, at 1:50 AM, wrote: Hi Kate, I am going to spend my usual time on Oahu and then stay on Hapuna Beach on the Big Island for a few days this time. I definitely need the getaway and also some friends are staying over there right now. It is only a brief respite because my trial is on break and I will be back on the chain gang when I return. A co-worker told me not to take my work Blackberry but I am hoping for a message the case goes away and then maybe I can stay away longer ;-) Back in 2000 I had to work on a case in the Marshall Islands for a month. I remember asking Bob M. about it because he had lived there with his family for a bit. Anyway, the other day some of my co-workers recalled my adventures there and wanted me to bring in my photos. In retrospect, the photo album that year was amazing. Not only filled with the Marshall Islands but Joni's BSN tour and SoCal minifests, Paz Fest in New Orleans and JoniFest in Topsfield. I had to tell my co-workers that I don't get to party like that anymore ;-) ;-( LOL Looking back on all our parties was so wonderful. If you want to give yourself a lift, go dig out your old Joni concert and Fest pics! As usual, I will search for some obscure Hawaiian or otherwise artist Joni cover for Mr. Muller on my trip! ;-) Kakki ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:35:12 -0400 From: "Richard Flynn" Subject: RE: guitar solo quiz (njc) No audio for me either. - -----Original Message----- From: owner-joni@smoe.org [mailto:owner-joni@smoe.org] On Behalf Of Bob.Muller@Fluor.com Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 5:02 PM To: Victor Johnson Cc: Joni people! Subject: Re: guitar solo quiz (njc) <16 out of 16!!! fun quiz....> Must be why I struggled with Chemistry & Physics at NC State...no audio. Bob NP: Porcupine Tree, "Way Out Of Here" - ------------------------------------------------------------ The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain proprietary, business-confidential and/or privileged material. If you are not the intended recipient of this message you are hereby notified that any use, review, retransmission, dissemination, distribution, reproduction or any action taken in reliance upon this message is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer. Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender and may not necessarily reflect the views of the company. - ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:33:39 -0400 From: "Richard Flynn" Subject: RE: guitar solo quiz (njc) There are several songs I have never listened to here by Van Halen, Aerosmith, Jane's Addiction, Yes, And Pink Floyd. So I won't humiliate myself by taking the quiz. - -----Original Message----- From: owner-joni@smoe.org [mailto:owner-joni@smoe.org] On Behalf Of Victor Johnson Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 4:48 PM To: Bob.Muller@Fluor.com Cc: Joni people! Subject: guitar solo quiz (njc) 16 out of 16!!! fun quiz.... On Jul 28, 2008, at 4:25 PM, Bob.Muller@Fluor.com wrote: > > > http://mentalfloss.com/quiz/quiz.php?q=68 > > Bob > > NP: Tom Waits, "Shiny Things" ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:42:40 -0700 (PDT) From: Bob Muller Subject: NJC On Wisconsin! I have...I have family in Madison - VERY cool college town. And about 6 years ago I flew up there to expedite some Stainless Steel vessels being manufactured in Tomahawk, WI. We went bowling and drank beer out of Budweiser bottles shaped like bowling pins, hadn't seen those before. On the way back to the airport we stopped at a little farm store that was selling cheese curds in a bag. They weren't coated or fried, just raw curds - yum! Bob NP: Tom Waits, "Lucinda" from his recent Atlanta concert...Victor and others, look on the NPR All Songs considered website, they will be posting this entire 2 hour+ concert in its entirety tomorrow! ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:00:11 -0700 (PDT) From: Bob Muller Subject: She & Him - You Turn Me On, I'm A Radio http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1tvUSb0xjs This is a fairly high-profile live cover from a recent show from She & Him (M. Ward & Zooey Descahanel). Bob NP: See above ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:11:42 -0400 From: Victor Johnson Subject: Re: She & Him - You Turn Me On, I'm A Radio Cool...they're actually playing here in Atlanta tomorrow. I saw their name on the marquee today [at Variety] but didn't know who they were. They have a nice sound. Might have to go check them out. Victor On Jul 28, 2008, at 7:00 PM, Bob Muller wrote: > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1tvUSb0xjs > This is a fairly high-profile live cover from a recent show from She > & Him (M. Ward & Zooey Descahanel). > Bob > NP: See above ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 05:17:31 +0000 (GMT) From: Joseph Palis Subject: Re: She & Him - You Turn Me On, I'm A Radio Just delurking briefly like a bottom-dweller that surfaces once in a while to check out the sun. Just a quick response to She & Him and their version of Joni's YTMOIAR. I watched the concert of She & Him here in the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro because I guess I count as a fan of M. Ward who I saw in concert two years ago at the same venue. M. Ward's concert tour was to promote his album "Post-War" (which is a very good album but it can't touch "Transfiguration of Vincent" in my opinion). As a fan of the films directed by David Gordon Green, I first saw Zooey Deschanel in Green's "All The Real Girls". I thought she has a good presence but it was in this campy "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" that made me pay attention to her versatility. Imagine my surprise when I found out that M. Ward teamed up with Zooey to form She & Him. Their album, curiously titled "Volume One", has been in medium rotation in the station. But because many of us were quite smitten by the music made by this rather unlikely pairing of talents, we played it like the album is on Heavy rotation. News that they are coming to Chapel Hill was announced as early as in late May. So tickets got sold out within a few days of its announcement. Fast forward: their actual night of performance. Cat's Cradle which typically have around 100-150 people in most of their shows, somehow expanded in size to accommodate the almost 500 folks who turned up for the show. So maybe it was only 400 people but it looked more than that in volume, noise, and the humidity inside that dark cavern of a concert stage. For once, I would say that the female-male ratio is about equal, with a range of ages. Cut to the stage: There were three guitarists including M. Ward, a background singer, a drummer and Zooey who is front and center and who carried a tambourine (and who later did a competent piano-playing that is part ragtime, part Weimar cabaret). The first song was Black Hole which was a good way to start a show -- a midtempo piece with a rousing opener and a majestic ending. People are screaming and cheering and whistling randomly. They did songs from their Volume One album and some covers, including a rather coy but charming "You really Got A Hold On Me" (included in their album). But first a note about the way the musicians are positioned onstage. M. Ward on the extreme left, then the bassist (who look a bit like that chick from The Dresden Dolls), the drummer, Zooey and the background singer. M. Ward is nondescript -- maybe it was intended that way but after 3 songs I thought that this is like asking Ani DiFranco to come onstage and play guitar to assist a singer without giving her a chance to sing solo. Zooey is in this blue dress and dressed similar to the background singer. She is charming and exhibits none of the diva attitude that I thought she'll resort to. Not that all Hollywood actors/actresses who are in rock bands have a distinctive swagger, but Zooey comes across like an excited ingenue who seems to enjoy grooving (how dated!) with a band. Maybe that is also an act but you never know. Zooey has this pleasant if undistinctive voice (or at least to my old ears). She is unafraid to use her beautiful vibrato when needed and which actually worked really well when the band backs her up. She has this fully secure middle range that can go really low if she wants to without becoming strained. As a fan of low voices, sadly she did not really fully utilize the allure of this part of her range. She also has this upper range that can soar without resorting to falsetto. It is like an early 80s Linda Ronstadt minus Ronstadt's purity, impeccable vocal dynamics and effortlessness when shifting from mid to high range. Zooey gives her all and one can't fault her for holding back and one (or at least me, and several others -- though one can't really know what people think even if they show signs that they like what they are seeing) loves the all-out enthusiasm she conjures when singing. But it can get boring pretty quick (again, to my ears) because she does not seem to possess enough technique or versatility to make her voice do other things. Maybe she should take lessons from Nancy Wilson (the jazz stylist, not Heart) for vocal control, or Gladys Knight for making one's range appear more multi-faceted. Zooey also cannot seem to know how to use the mic. Or maybe this is the problem of the sound engineer or the folks who are manning the sound controls. Her voice comes out shout-y sometimes. Again there are singers who she can definitely learn from: Mavis Staples or Beverley Craven or even Melinda Doolittle of American Idol Karin Bergquist -- women who know how to use a mic without oversinging. Yet Zooey charms. There is something contradictory and paradoxical about her and her performance. She can get shout-y and appear like an amateur who can't control her voice yet that same characteristic also makes her endearing -- like an outsider artist. Think B.J. Snowden (if B.J. is even aware of pitch) crossed with Emiliana Torrini. One wonders if She & Him will go places if Zooey is not a Hollywood actress paired with an unknown but masterful guitarist. M. Ward and Zooey did three numbers and they are all excellent. At one point they were both playing piano in a dazzlingly playful way that made me wish - --as much as the band is excellent -- only he and Zooey were onstage. M. ward seems to come alive when he is with Zooey together. His guitar wizardry coupled with his distinctive voice really deserved 2 or 3 solo spots or at least extended improvisations. It is probably like seeing Joe Pass and Ella Fitzgerald in their own guitar-voice duets. M. Ward seems content with his second billing and it makes me frustrated that someone who is here in our college town is onstage but not showing the genius in bringing down the house that he is known for. Fans are hard to please, no? Okay, so this post have been digressing big time and has taken longer than I originally conceived. Now for the Joni part. Zooey sang Joni's "You Turn Me On I'm A Radio" while M. Ward strummed in that song's familiar strain. Zooey goes: the next song we're going to perform is one done by Joni Mitchell. The beat is infectious, the audience are slowly and rhythmically flowing along the beat. Then Zoey went "if you're driving into town..." in Joni's key. Which I thought was wrong wrong wrong. Unless you have Joni's range, the song can be, well, range-y for you to sing especially in parts that had you yodel/sing falsetto to approximate the precise note that Joni was hitting in her original recording. And I am really loving Zooey for tackling Joni but I am actually half cringing and half expecting that she'll fall short or come out breathless in the flood of words that Joni is first among equals. And sad to say, much as Zooey soldiered on and sang the precariously high note -- too high for her fach -- she had to transpose it midway or sing the note lower in mid-attack. Maybe it is unfair that Joni's vocal imprimatur be made the standard (after all Kevyn Lettau's version of YTMOIAR worked well in her own arrangements and in her own key) for this song but for me, while Zooey was struggling with the song, you wished that Joni is singing it, or at least that Zooey did not tackle that song. For me it is like watching Meryl Streep and others sing Abba songs in "Mamma Mia!" -- it was fun to see how they can get away with the song but I wished they used ABBA's original versions during those over-the-top numbers -- I am sure I am in the minority here. YTMOIAR is a fun song to sing but in my opinion you had to make it work for you to make it credible. It is hard to sing like Joni, even k.d. lang said as much when she said that singing ""Help Me" is a b*tch to sing". Victor, you should still check them out. She & Him is fun and the band is topnotch. The concert was a bit short (12 songs!), with two encores "Bring It On Home" and one song that has "Trick" in the title. Anyway, I don't know why writing about She & Him is easier than writing about what I am supposed to be writing. Back to lurkdom, Joseph in Chapel Hill - --- En date deB : Mar 29.7.08, Victor Johnson a C)critB : De: Victor Johnson Objet: Re: She & Him - You Turn Me On, I'm A Radio C: "Bob Muller" Cc: "JMDL" Date: Mardi 29 Juillet 2008, 7h11 Cool...they're actually playing here in Atlanta tomorrow. I saw their name on the marquee today [at Variety] but didn't know who they were. They have a nice sound. Might have to go check them out. Victor On Jul 28, 2008, at 7:00 PM, Bob Muller wrote: > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1tvUSb0xjs > This is a fairly high-profile live cover from a recent show from She > & Him (M. Ward & Zooey Descahanel). > Bob > NP: See above ____________________________________________________________________ _________ Envoyez avec Yahoo! Mail. Une boite mail plus intelligente http://mail.yahoo.fr ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:56:04 -0700 From: "Kate Bennett" Subject: RE: Hawaii and JoniFests (njc) Double sigh. Though SF isn't too shabby! >Sigh! Love Paz (in Santa Fe New Mexico)< ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2008 #149 ***************************** ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here: mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe -------