Karen Jonas: The Restless (Album Release Show)
Opening for the Po Ramblin Boys, Karen Jonas was still glowing from the release of her new album The Restless along with a pair of sold out performances; no doubt with several more on the horizon.
Turns out she marries up just as nicely with an ice-cold beer as she does with a glass of your favorite red. However, this woman drinks whiskey!
“Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.” ~ Mark Twain. This is how I feel about whiskey and Karen Jonas’s music. After listening to her latest album more times than I care to admit in print, I was finally able to catch Karen Jonas and company live.
What a tremendously delightful treat! She played her entire new album in order from start to finish. Along with a couple of her favorites. Ladies and gentlemen, I am here to tell you Karen Jonas is an absolute force!
In between songs, she dazzled and charmed the audience with keen insights about the next song. Why are so many of her songs set in Paris? “Cheaper to write songs about Paris than to fly.”
Prior to my favorite song on the album, she playfully quipped, “Instead of being drunk you maybe feel elegantly wasted.” I absolutely adore this song and hearing it live even after listening to it countless times prior, I feel emboldened to double down and restate that this is indeed my favorite and maybe it should be yours too.
While regaling the story of how the song, “That’s Not My Dream Couch” came into existence, she confessed that despite her ability to sing in French she’s not able to actually speak it. She goes on to say, “Canapé du rêves (Sofa of Dreams).” Maybe she blundered the phrase, perhaps the audience wasn’t impressed enough, she quickly goes, “No one speaks French? Perfect!” Which then received some laughter and she dove right into the song.
Man, the start of the B side (“Rock the Boat”) just hit hard and honestly resonated with me a bit more solidly tonight than any other time. The level of scrappiness and passion from Karen Jonas was next level and quite frankly reminiscent of two heavyweight prize fighters at the start of a match. There was an incredible burst of fire, intensity and tenacity that led me to the realization that Karen Jonas has a few more delectably hidden gears that she can ratchet up at will.
The ever-whimsical Tim Bray on lead guitar was just as delightful, entertaining and exhilarating to watch in person as I imagined.
Seth Morrissey, the stoic genius behind the scene effortlessly and dutifully played the bass and double bass throughout the night. Suddenly and surprisingly he started belting out the second to last song of the night in a really impressive bluesy voice.
Karen Jonas had on a teal top and Tim Bray wore a matching teal blazer. Identical in color to the mid century modern tufted sofa on The Restless album cover. The only way Seth Morrissey could be more impressive would be if Karen and Tim could somehow get Seth to join in on their color story and he wore matching teal suspenders.
Karen Jonas musical prowess and live performance is greater than the sum of its parts. Said simply, Karen is an absolute force, her band is an equally and adept force multiplier.
While my wife is jealous of Karen’s workout regimen. I was more envious and enamored with the interplay between the band, during and after the show. Everyone in the band was super nice taking time after the show to chat with their adoring fans and sign merchandise.
Top three songs of the night for me were “Elegantly Wasted,” “Throw Me to the Wolves” and “Rock the Boat.” While speaking with Karen Jonas after the show, my wife briefly forgot her favorite song and was politely reminded by Karen Jonas herself that it was “Drunken Dreamer.”
Here are some photos from the album release show courtesy of Jim Williams Photography
