jaymay, bowery ballroom, 06.10.2008

last night was the first time i went out to a concert in months, but i made sure that it was a good one: jaymay at bowery ballroom. it was to be her last "real" concert (she's opening for fink for a few dates this summer) until the autumn, and she was so very happy to be playing it in new york. i was happy, too.

she began right away with "song for paul," which no longer played as a sad, haunting lullaby for her lost friend, was quite aggressive and raw. i'd have to say that the switch from the fragile airiness to the more full-on, forward sound of "song for paul" paralleled nicely with the change jaymay has made to her presence as well. one thing i noticed immediately was that she was considerably more comfortable on stage, and much more relaxed, than when i had last seen her. i chalk it up to recording an album and touring in several countries that has helped her find her place on stage. she was silly, playful, interacted with audience, and asked us to interact with her, as we doo-doo-doo'd and sang a few choruses. she played the the well-known songs, sprinkling in a few unknowns from her new ep, 10 under 2, which are 10 songs, all under 2 minutes. they were short, sweet, and lovely.

near the end of the concert, after she finished up a song, i heard her holler to the back of the stage, "mr kevin devine!" my heart stopped, could it be? the pairing i had always put in my head but could never foresee in real life? and then it happened, it was true! -- kevin devine* came out on stage, and duetted with her on "you are the only one i love." a true experience that i am so glad i was able to take in.

finally, after over an hour of jaymay's best, she stepped away from the mic, stood at the edge of stage, and demanded that everyone learn the chorus to "tragedy," as it was our final performance of the night as well. after 4 tries to get everyone in sync, she noted that the press in the audience might write down in their reviews that she wasn't taking her "job" seriously enough. she shrugged an "oh well," stuck out her tongue, and swung into the first verse of the song. tired and wiped out after giving it her all, she exited the stage with a demure bow, and the lights went up. no encore this time, but after such an intense and endearing hour, i held no qualms about it. it was a magical night for one and all.


*for those not in the know, kevin devine is another brooklyn-based singer/songwriter, who happens to have close ties with jesse lacey of brand new (they will even be touring together this summer). i have a huge music crush on him. for proof, see here.