In an era where technologically savvy producers can make even the likes of Katy Perry sound decent on CD, it’s always refreshing when an artist’s performance outshines their album. Such was the case with Jenny Lewis.
Lewis’ vocals enraptured the sellout Plaza Theatre crowd, with each silken, soulful note gliding over the music. In person, Lewis bested her studio performance, capturing more emotion and raw power. From the sultry lows of “Jack Killed Mom” to the highest falsetto of “Godspeed,” Lewis showcased her incredible range, pouncing on some notes and practically whispering others.
Wearing black hot pants and ankle boots that matched her red hair, Lewis was a commanding presence, whether strutting to the country-rock numbers or crooning at the keyboard. Though her vocals were the feature, Lewis’s backing band took the performance to a new level, including a few jams by drummer Barbara Gruska and percussionist Danielle Haim that could have been an audition for “Stomp.” Though making it clear that she will be a power player in the indie-rock scene for the foreseeable future, Lewis did not forget her roots, treating the crowd to two brand new tracks as well as the old Rilo Kiley song “Silver Lining.”
The band headed into their encore with an energetic performance of the pitch and tempo-shifting Acid Tongue masterpiece, “The Next Messiah.” It was the closing number, however, that left the biggest impression. The spiritual ballad “Born Secular” featured Lewis’s soulful twang harmonizing perfectly with the rest of the band to spine-tingling effect, channeling the type of energy and passion one would expect from a tent revival. It was exactly the type of experience that is impossible to create in a recording studio.
