Last night Jukebox the Ghost celebrated their cd release with a packed house in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The night started with opening acts Via Audio followed by Drink Up Buttercup, both of which played good solid sets (although I have to admit I preferred Drink Up Buttercup, but that was just personal preference. I asked a friend what he thought and he liked them both about the same, it seemed). Once Buttercup finished their set, the crowd anxiously awaited for the moment we had all been waiting for. When Jukebox finally took the stage (which seemed like an eternity almost, although it was more like 20 minutes), it was to an enthusiastic applause. As would be expected, they played mostly songs from the new album, but there were still a few essentials played from their first, including Hold It In, Good Day, and Under my Skin. I was surprised to hear Hold It In played early in the set (it was the second song), but I guess I’ll have to get used to it with the introduction of so much good new material. Not complaining at all though. I recognize the need for change, and there have definitely been a lot of great changes with this band lately. Besides the new album being released, they also were recently on the Tonight Show w/ Dave Letterman and even more recently have announced a short extension to their tour where they will be opening for Barenaked Ladies. So yes, lots of good things are happening with this band. I couldn’t think of anyone who deserves it more though. The band has given consistently good performances and proven their love for music time and again. They closed the evening with an encore of Summer Sun followed by Victoria and a special cover that they had previously said they would never play in NY again. Their justification of this…? “Brooklyn isn’t NY.” I say it’s a stretch but I am perfectly fine with that. In case you don’t know what I’m talking about, the cover was of the Donna Lewis’ hit “I Love You Always Forever”. Personally I think their rendition is better than the original, so I have no problems with them playing it at a few more shows before they put it into retirement. It was an odd yet fun end to the night. This seems fitting when you think about it though. If I would use any combination of words to describe their music, it would be “odd yet fun”.
If you haven’t bought your copy of Everything Under the Sun