The Levitt Shell has a rich history here in Memphis. From the legendary performance of Elvis in 1954 to the modern day appearances by the likes of Bela Fleck and Eric Gales, it’s safe to say a few legends have left the stage leaving behind traces of their character. Last night was no different when famed indie act Jenny Owen Youngs graced the stage like a pixie, self-aware that she was in the world of the normal and everyone was setting their eyes on her, waiting for her to do magic. She obliged willingly.
Youngs’ style is a mix of referenced 90’s indie rock and a new sound all her own. With a voice that tends to bloom like a strong flower and guitar work and tones that are as perfectly shaped as they are infectious, her presence is undeniable.
Opening with a fun little 2/4 based beat, she made fast work of getting the crowd accustomed to her bouncy rock jams. Playing mostly off the idea of heartbreak, she ran through quite a few rock pieces, jazzed up by her on-stage style and guitar workings.
Subtly making musical references the likes of Pavement and Erin McKeown, her music is often centered around dirty chords and tongue-in-cheek references to heartbreak or hard times. Songs that had their foundations raised on her power chords, finger picking, and the masterful kit-work of drumming partner Elliot Jaccobson, were brought back to earth with the delicate lilting of her gorgeous voice. These vocal lines seem to be one of the reasons Youngs sticks out, as they convey massive amounts of emotion in a subtle manor, in between heart wrenching verses like a ray of sun poking through the clouds on a rainy day.
In between songs, she would embark on tours of quirky and adorable ramblings that were full of charm and character and took the space between the audience and the stage out of the equation. With the new parameters set at just Jenny Owen Youngs, Elliot Jackobson, their instruments, and my ears—it was easy to get involved and feel every song she banged through her guitar. This feeling became increasingly true as she brought out a track I’d heard earlier in the day on The Warm Up that was nothing less than pure magic: “Voice on Tape.”
After taking the crowd’s heart for a spin, she brought the atmosphere back to light-hearted banter with a FACE-MELTING cover of Nelly’s “Hot in Here.” Although a bit oxymoronic in the outdoor venue that is The Levitt Shell, she put a fresh spin on the song, adding ironic charm to a track that’s already on fire.
I admittedly was unfamiliar with Ms. Youngs before last night, and although I wouldn’t have been ashamed of that fact before hearing her music… I kind of am now. Her adeptness at composition and lyrical structure is only matched by her charm and presence. If you don’t own a Jenny Owen Youngs record or two, buy them. If you haven’t seen her live, make a road trip.
With her tour only halfway through, anyone with a weekend free now has something to do, and when you go, be sure to get a complimentary high-five from her!
