The Jayhawks

Wednesday 7th September. Islington Assembly Hall. The Jayhawks. Bigger than usual crowd of us out tonight for one of my favourite bands in the past twenty years. From the opening bars of ‘Waiting on the Sun’ from the masterpiece that is ‘Hollywood Town Hall’ twenty four years ago and their opening slot for Dwight Yoakam in the same year through thick and thin they have produced consistently great music.

It’s fitting that again they start the show with the aforementioned track and it sets the tone for the whole evening. Interspersed with tracks from the new album ‘Paging Mr Proust’ is a classic from the back catalogue.

It’s the classic alternative (i.e. sans Olson) line up tonight with Louris, Perlman, Grotberg and the excellent Tim O’Reagan ably supported by Jeff Lyster on guitar and pedal steel and occasionally John Jackson on violin, mandolin and any other instrument ending in lin.

Its two hours of pure musical pleasure, highlights too difficult to mention but ‘Big Star’ and the Louris solo ‘Settled down like Rain’ were brilliant. Louris’ voice has never sounded better and the harmonies led by O’Reagan were perfect as was his spotlight moment of ‘Tampa to Tulsa’. The new songs hold their own against such a back catalogue. This is the ninth time I have seen them and hope to be there for many more.

Shout out for the venue. For a non-descript council building I have not seen a bad gig there, good sight lines, good size, good sound, good toilets but please sort out the one bar.

Keep on rockin y’all.

Just after the Jayhawks released their highest-charting single, “Blue” in the mid-90s, guitarist Mark Olsen—who shared vocals and harmonies with guitarist Gary Louris—abruptly left the band. Fronted only by Louris, the Jayhawks made a decent go of it over the next ten years. Always a solid live band, the Olsen-less Jayhawks guaranteed a concertgoer a competent, steady show.

Three years ago, though, Olsen and Louris apparently mended fences, and the newly reformed group have been touring fairly steadily. Most initially gratifying is that Olsen's deeper, more earthy vocals provide a nice counterpoint to Louris's high lonesome tenor. Better yet, seeing the group play live, it's clear that Olsen gives the group something of an edge and even a more mischievous sense of humor than it had in his absence.

In concert, The Jayhawks are one of the best live country-influence rock bands of all time. One of the original bands in the 1990s alt-country movement, the band under Louris seemed to steer towards a more mainstream rock sound. With Olsen's returned, their live show now completely restores the twang. In fact, the group is likely to produce mandolins, fiddles, and slide guitar—all expertly played—in their shows.

Set lists tend to highlight new material that Louris and Olsen are working on, but as might be expected they also draw heavily from their critically acclaimed records Hollywood Town Hall and Tomorrow The Green Grass as well.

I traveled across state lines to see this show on a frigid January night. The Fairfield Theater was a nice venue, with ample parking and in close proximity to a number of nice restaurants in the charming village of Fairfield, CT. It was my first time seeing the opening act, Folk Uke. I thoroughly enjoyed their set. The Jayhawks were off the charts. The hall full of enthusiastic fans was treated to a night of FOLK ROCK HEAVEN! It was a show I will remember for a long time to come.

So good to see this band after being a fan for more than a minute now. There were on good form.and played for the better part of two hours all in. Gary Louris looks to have bought all the guitars he has ever owned, but this only added to the magic of the occasion. It only helped 'that the same bone seemed to circulate through the sold out crowd. If I get the chance again I wouldn't hesitate to indulge

Best part was Gary Louris Flying V Guitar

Thanks guys

Great show all around. The professionalism of this group and the intensity of the singing and guitar playing made the evening exciting and memorable. Several friends who attended the show with me expressed wholehearted praise for the high-energy performance of the entire band. A classy band that delivers the goods!

It doesn't get better than front row at a Jayhawks show. I also met the band before the show which was an added bonus. They played the best of their old tracks and introduced some new favorites too. Go see the Jayhawks!

Awesome show! Played a mix of older and newer songs. Sound was great. Louris rocked the place. He is truly an amazing musician. First Ave is a great venue to see live music.