Johnette
A quick interlude as I continue to search for time to complete the travel log from my Serbia/Russia trip...
Last Thursday I had the privilege of seeing one of my favorite musicians--Johnette Napolitano. For those of you who do not recognize the name, she was/is the lead singer of the band Concrete Blonde. For those of you who are not familiar with Concrete Blonde, 1) I'm sorry to hear that because you're missing out on some fantastic music, and 2) I'm not going to give you any more hints or information--try google.
Anyhow, she was performing at Jammin' Java, a funky little coffee house/music venue in Vienna, VA. I have to say that by my urban standards, it was a trek getting there. It required a metro ride out into the burbs followed by a short cab ride to the club.
I say Johnette in 1995 with her band Pretty and Twisted, and that was a full-on rock show. Loud, dark rock. This show was rather different. Johnette performed solo. Although she usually plays bass in her bands, this night she was playing acoustic guitar--and certainly did an adequate job, but for fans of the Blonde, it's a bit disappointing not to hear Jim Mankey's electric guitar pyrotechnics. Still, this show featured the other two critical elements of the Blonde--the songs and Johnette's voice.
She is still my favorite female singer. Her range of expression, power, delicacy, and ability to convey emotion are unparalleled in my book. The intimate setting, and the lack of other instruments allowed her to showcase her voice, and her soul.
She took the stage in a long red dress and with her brunette hair and dark eyes, she looked like a cross between Linda Blair and Janis Joplin--both very appropriate comparrisons for a variety of reasons. She performed a mix of Blonde songs, solo originals, a Pretty and Twisted tune, and a few covers, including an eerie and erotic version of "Ghost Riders in the Sky."
Johnette bantered in between songs--she talked politics, dogs, life in Joshua Tree, and went off on a few other rants. For me the highlights of the night were Concrete Blonde tunes "Sun", "I Don't Need a Hero", "Mexican Moon", and an a capella version of "Wendy". I will say that I was disappointed she didn't sing anything from the album "Group Therapy" which is the most powerful and personally meaningful CB album. I was also disappointed that she only performed for a little over an hour, but I guess that's an hour or so more than most attention spans today. What? Look at the birds...
After the show, I did an extremely rare thing (especially since I worked in the music business and am not a myrmidon by nature) and hung out backstage so I could say hello. After waiting for 45 minutes, I had a brief chance to chat and tell her that "Group Therapy" was one of the most important albums in my life.
Afterwards, a very nice couple from the area gave me a ride back to the metro station, and then I learned another hard lesson about DC--the metro shuts down earlier than the T in Boston. The last inbound train left Vienna at 11:25 pm, and I arrived at the station at 12:15, assuming I had 15 minutes to spare. Well, that lesson cost me a $45 cab ride home, but I still got to see Johnette...
Things get better everyday you stay alive
then I'm amazed
every day
that the sun decides to rise
every minute, every hour, is another
chance to change
life is beautiful & terrible & strange.
