The Americana and roots music authority

The Jayhawks, The Barbican (London, 3/8/12)

Tonight’s opener, Chuck Prophet, dedicated his song The Left Hand and the Right Hand to brothers* – The Gallaghers, Ray and Dave, Dave and Phil, Phil and Don, and Gary and Mark. The latter pairing, co-founders of alt-country icons The Jayhawks, are not siblings but their relationship does mirror what many brothers go through – a coming together, a separation then a well-received reconciliation. This particular reconciliation doesn’t just apply to the pairing of Louris and Olson but also to the re-forming of the seminal Jayhawks line up of aforesaid ‘brothers’ with bassist Marc Perlman, keyboard player Karen Grotberg and drummer Tim O’Reagan.

As soon as the five-piece walked onto the darkened stage, without any fanfare, to be greeted by loud applause, they launched straight into the opening song Wichita and that really set the format for the evening. By that I mean that the Jayhawks were pretty economical with between song chatter, preferring to let their music speak on their behalf to the (mostly) fifty-something crowd.

With the release of MOCKINGBIRD TIME last September they played a selection of these new songs (Cinnamon Love, Closer To Your Side, She Walks In So Many Ways, Tiny Arrows and Black Eyed Susan) but whereas in previous outings they have stuck pretty much to songs from 1992’s HOLLYWOOD TOWN HALL and 1995’s TOMORROW THE GREEN GRASS tonight they expanded their repertoire to also include A Break In the Clouds from 2000’s SMILE and Angelyne and Tampa To Tulsa from 2003’s RAINY DAY MUSIC. Furthermore there was a song from Olson’s Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers days How Can I Send Tonight (There To Tell You) and his solo work Clifton Bridge from SALVATION BLUES. It was amazing to hear Clifton Bridge delivered in harmony with Louris’ vocals.

A cover of Up Above My Head (Sister Rosetta Tharpe) saw opener Prophet join them, taking Olson’s acoustic guitar leaving him (Olson that is) to show off his gospel tinged vocals.

Throughout the evening the playing was tight; the clarity of sound was exceptional (you could hear each instrument and each vocal) and they just delivered song after song after song. Some might think that the lack of chatter with the audience took something away from the performance but not me! Hearing them in this setting made for one of the best Jayhawks shows I’ve been to (and I’ve been to a fair few in my time) and whilst the show finished promptly no one could feel that they had been at all short-changed with twenty-one songs played out tonight.

It remains a mystery to me why this band never really hit the ‘big time’ – their songs are so friendly on the ear, the harmonies are to die for and one can only hope that in this, their ‘second coming’ they get what they rightfully deserve – critical acclaim and commercial success. Jela Webb

* Liam and Noel Gallagher, Ray and Dave Davies, Dave and Phil Alvin and Phil and Don Everly

Set List

Wichita (Hollywood Town Hall)

Cinnamon Love (Mockingbird Time)

Pray For Me (Tomorrow The Green Grass)

Closer To Your Side (MT)

Take Me With You (When You Go) (HTH)

She Walks in So Many Ways (MT)

Blue (TTGG)

There's No Place For People Like Him (Mystery Demos)

Tiny Arrows (MT)

I'd Run Away (TTGG)

Clifton Bridge (Salvation Blues)

Angelyne (Rainy Day Music)

Black Eyed Susan (MT)

Two Hearts (TTGG)

Miss Williams' Guitar (TTGG)

A Break in The Clouds (Smile)

Settled Down Like Rain (HTH)

Up Above My Head (HTH Bonus Track)

Tampa to Tulsa (RDM)

How Can I Send Tonight (There To Tell You) (December's Child)

Waiting For The Sun (HTH)

Tags: Chuck Prophet, Gary Louris, Karen Grotberg, Marc Perlman, Mark Olson, The Jayhawks, Tim O'Reagan

Comment by Hal Bogerd on March 12, 2012 at 7:51pm: Thanks for the review and what a treat to see Chuck open the show!

Comment by Pete on March 12, 2012 at 8:18pm: fyi -- foolishly skipped their show in Pittsburgh in October (owing to a very busy weekend), but found an old concert recording on their website http://www.jayhawksofficial.com/bootlegs.html to compensate for the void...my brother did attend and also noted the terrific sound at the show...you'll note that they did "Up Above My Head" back in '90, too...thanks for your report...Slainte!

Comment by L A Johnson on March 13, 2012 at 12:25am: Great double bill, never really liked Olson's Creekdippers. The double bill was excellent - Mr Prophet's latest record is his best to date. Tampa to Tulsa was a highlight, I fear the Jayhawks will never make it BIG but I don't think that will bother them with a set list like this - the show wasn't a sell out which was a surprise. Now for Dave Alvin on 20th April.

Comment by John Jobling on March 13, 2012 at 4:27am: Excellent Review Jela. Glad to hear that this "reunion" lived up to expectations. Hopefully a bigger tour to come in UK

Comment by Jeff Porter on March 13, 2012 at 12:04pm: The Portland show was, well, awkward. Mark seemed detached from the rest of the band (who seemed to be having a great time and sounded wonderful) to the point where he turned around with his back to the audience and stopped playing guitar during Tampa to Tulsa. He just seemed to be somewhere else.

Comment by Jane Parsons on March 13, 2012 at 1:18pm: Feel compelled to comment as it was the most disappointing gig I've been to in a long time. The band looked unhappy to be there, and hence - so was I, and most of the people I knew in the crowd. I don't need a band to talk to the audience, but I do expect some energy, enthusiasm, charisma, to shine through - something more than just a recreation of album tracks. Yes, the sound was great - and Chuck Prophet was (is) fantastic (can't wait for Dingwalls in April) but I wish the Jayhawks had stayed at home. Well, except for Mark Olson, at least he seemed remotely interested. If you weren't a fan before, you certainly wouldn't have become one after that show.

In all, dull dull dull.

Comment by Jela Webb on March 13, 2012 at 3:14pm: Jane, it's interesting to read your entirely different take on the evening. I loved the show and thought that they were very professional and played so well together. Perlman, Grotberg and O'Reagan just let their playing shine through without any need to make a fuss - perhaps to some that seemed like they weren't engaged but that wasn't how I saw it. Louris and Olson's harmonies are what make the Jayhawks, the Jayhawks and as I said it was particularly wonderful to hear Gary sing with Mark on Clifton Bridge. I played and played and played SALVATION BLUES over and over when I got it a few years back and it was in my top 10 in the year of release.

A friend who was at the London show loved it so much that he then went to the Bristol show to see them again! Just shows how we see things differently.

Comment by RP N10 on March 13, 2012 at 11:27pm: Find my self somewhere in the middle on this one. Chuck Prophet did what was in effect a killer of a support set on his own with an acoustic guitar on a big stage. His presence on the bill was what had me parting with the cash for a ticket as I wasn't greatly impressed with Mockingbird Time although their show at the Forum last August was very good. The Barbican can seem a pretty cold venue and the seats are really uncomfortable. The first couple of songs I thought they struggled with the vocal mix and, to my ears, Louris's vocal seemed a bit off and on all night. Clifton Bridge was the best song of the night; maybe as much for being a surprise. The set was billed on the web site to run 8:20 to 10:20. The band came on just after 8:30 and were done with encores and everything just before 10:15. Not dull, dull, dull by any means. I didn't have Salvation Blues on the iPod so I listened to Temple Beautiful on the way home, which on balance was right.

Comment by declan culliton on March 15, 2012 at 10:34am: They were exceptional in Dublin on Tuesday night! Venue holding around 600, standing only. Sound great both on vocals and each instrument.Both Gary Louris and Mark Olson engaged well with the audience between songs are took the house down. I also felt that the material from Mockongbird Time worked very well and will revisit the album after being underwhelmed when it was released. Material from Hollywood Town Hall was best recieved of course, not surprising as it is such a classic album.

Louris came to the bar after the show and chatted away, very friendly and polite.

Had seen Gary Louris solo, Mark Olson solo, Tim O'Reagan solo and Gary Louris and Mark Olson as a duo before but seeing the band in such good form was a delight.

The icing on the cake was Willy Vlautin and Dan Eccles from Richmond Fontaine supporting!

Comment by Matthew Wester on March 16, 2012 at 9:00am: A friend of mine went to the show and thought Olson, not the rest of the band, was the sleepy one who might've needed some way to boost his energy...interesting to hear such different perspectives on the same show, I suppose it underscores the point that reviews often reveal more about the reviewer than the subject of the review.

Comment