{"id":902,"date":"2011-11-19T20:00:45","date_gmt":"2011-11-19T20:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/216.71.127.204\/wordpress\/?p=902"},"modified":"2015-10-13T18:59:07","modified_gmt":"2015-10-13T18:59:07","slug":"the-jayhawks-house-of-blues-houston-tx","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/houstonmusicreview.com\/wordpress\/2011\/11\/19\/the-jayhawks-house-of-blues-houston-tx\/","title":{"rendered":"The Jayhawks – House of Blues – Houston, TX"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
Written by Traci Rogers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nov 19, 2011 at 08:00 PM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Minnesota\u2019s Jayhawks rocked Houston\u2019s House of Blues Saturday night along with opening act and Houston native Jolie Holland. Houston was privileged to serve as the last stop on the 2011 Mockingbird Time <\/em>tour, the showcased album wherein all original members reunited after 15 years to record what many believe is the band\u2019s best work since 1995\u2019s Tomorrow the Green Grass.<\/em> In fact, guitarist Gary Louris told Rolling Stone<\/em> this past September that MBT<\/em> is really a continuation of TTGG<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI drove here from Austin to see them reunite!\u201d said Ray Busby, minutes before his favorite band took the stage. \u201cThe first time I saw The Jayhawks was 25 years ago at what was the Liberty Lunch in Austin, you know, before the town began redeveloping, and Matthew Sweet opened for them,\u201d the 49 year old gold trader said while grinning ear to ear. Because of various conflicts, Busby did not see The Jayhawks at Austin\u2019s Paramour Theater earlier this week. After glancing at his watch, Busby quickly disposed of his cigarette and added one final comment before returning to his seat: \u201cI don\u2019t care if I\u2019m out of space on my I-pod, I will choose the Jayhawks over all of the others. I\u2019m so happy they\u2019re back together; they\u2019ve just got that vibe!\u201d<\/p>\n

With no introduction other than a \u201cCheck, Check, Check\u201d microphone test, the Jayhawks humbly entered the stage, took possession of their instruments and lit a fire under the spectators\u2019 feet (or behinds) with \u201cWichita\u201d from the 1992 Hollywood Town Hall<\/em>. In his trademark head bandana and juxtaposing, casual business attire, Mark Olson led the band straight into \u201cCinnamon Love,\u201d a tune from the latest CD which tends to weave serious, minor-keys that eventually blend into a light, coasting, circular chorus.<\/p>\n

I have to agree with other listeners in that Mockingbird Time <\/em>is a creeper. As Billy Cox said before the Saturday night performance, \u201cI had to listen to it three or four times before I could really enjoy it.\u201d Likewise, after listening to the album six + times, I have been waking in the mornings with \u201cGuilder Annie,\u201d \u201cBlack Eyed Susan\u201d and \u201cTiny Arrows\u201d in my head.<\/p>\n

From their 1995 Tomorrow the Green Grass<\/em> album, \u201cPray For Me,\u201d one can hear shades of Buffalo Springfield from Louris\u2019 guitar, while keyboardist Karen Grotberg\u2019s contribution personifies the more spiritual plea for fidelity.\u00a0\u00a0 Before the performance, I wondered how the band would achieve the melancholy tone with the absence of a violinist in my favorite MBT<\/em> song, \u201cBlack Eyed Susan\u201d. \u00a0Grotberg\u2019s playing proved most impressive and melancholy enough for the live concert. \u00a0 I did not require the effect of a violin to accent the \u201chome and spoon collection\u201d line. Grotberg conveyed the vivid sentiments of heartbreak and loss through her Hammond organ. \u00a0 In addition to her keyboarding skills, her Joni Mitchell, soprano voice can hold its own in a live duet or in three\/four part harmony, particularly in the \u201cCool Cool Water\u201d duet with Louris.<\/p>\n

Although the House of Blues was not filled to capacity, the Jayhawks played to what appeared to be die-hard fans from a few generations. \u00a0 Steven Meyer, a native of Minnesota himself, has lived in Houston for the past 11 years. \u201cThe first time I ever saw the Jayhawks was in Austin, MN on 6th<\/sup> Ave,\u201d he said. Yes, you read his quote correctly; I had to double check for myself. There is an Austin in Minnesota, just as there is a 6th<\/sup> Street\/Avenue. After the 2000 release of the Smile<\/em> album, \u201cThey were playing with [the band] Train in front of this huge church. The weather was perfect, and the wind was blowing their hair back. . .I brought my children with me tonight. This is my daughter\u2019s first concert ever,\u201d Meyer said.<\/p>\n

Toward the end of the show, Louris recalled the last time the Jayhawks visited Houston. \u201cDo you remember a place called Fitzgerald\u2019s?\u201d he asked. The crowd erupted into applause as he and Olson discussed their fellow headliners from that night eleven years ago. \u201cYeah, we were promoting Smile<\/em> at that time, and there was some band we played with. . . I think the name was Johnny Reno, the Sax Maniac.\u201d Whistles, laughter and applause were the responses.<\/p>\n

During the demanded encore, I finally heard what I thought would never be played Saturday night: \u201cTampa to Tulsa\u201d. Standing on the 3rd<\/sup> level, I looked down to scan the bottom level for the same reactions that I was feeling to the song. In addition to the dreamy-eyed women singing along, I noticed more men than women shooting videos\/photos. I surmise that the sincerity in Tim O\u2019Reagan\u2019s voice and the heart-tugging longing in the lyrics touches us all in some way.<\/p>\n

In the grand finale, we were treated to an extended version of \u201cWaiting for the Sun\u201d from the 1992 Hollywood Town Hall.<\/em> It dawned upon me that Louris\u2019 guitar riffs might have been the inspiration for Tom Petty\u2019s 1993 single \u201cLast Dance with Mary Jane\u201d.<\/p>\n

Once The Jayhawks wrapped up their last night of the tour, they were still generous enough with their time to sign autographs and pose for photos.<\/p>\n

They will be heading to Europe after the New Year, according to their official web page.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Written by Traci Rogers Nov 19, 2011 at 08:00 PM Minnesota\u2019s Jayhawks rocked Houston\u2019s House of Blues Saturday night along with opening act and Houston native Jolie Holland. Houston was privileged to serve as the last stop on the 2011 Mockingbird Time tour, the showcased album wherein all original members reunited after 15 years to… <\/p>\n

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