So last night we saw the first Jon Brion show at the Coronet Theater. Despite a few familiar flourishes, this venue is no Largo redux. I came craving honey chicken and ended up with some pre-show Vito\u2019s (which I think will be a necessary pre-show ritual from now on).<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve seen Jon\u2019s shows fairly regularly for the past six years; I can comfortably say I\u2019ve probably sat through no less than 50 of his shows (a modest estimate, truthfully). I\u2019ve seen him at his worst and I\u2019ve seen him at his best (and, in the case of the Thursday after Elliott Smith\u2019s death, both his best and worst simultaneously). Last night was an appropriate, middle of the road Jon show \u2013 his usual mind blowing bas of musical genius in full display.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m sure there will be numerous accounts of last night\u2019s show, so just a few thoughts:<\/p>\n
– I\u2019ve made official Largo at the Coronet History: I had the first Jon Brion request at his new venue. Granted his version of Baba O\u2019Riley started our as a silly ragtime medley before launching into piano-mad vivaciousness, but it\u2019s always fun to see him try a new and unexpected approach to the song\u2019s electronic arpeggios.<\/p>\n
– I then made even more official history: I had the last request of Jon\u2019s first set. Again, I wasn\u2019t expecting him to turn \u201cDon\u2019t Think Twice\u201d into his Les Paul ditty, but there\u2019s never a bad way to hear Dylan at his best. (Similarly, two requests out of the four means I easily glided into the record books for most requests in his first show \u2013 I know these are ridiculous records, but they are my ridiculous records!)<\/p>\n
– Speaking of requests, people need to know the protocol for them. It\u2019s pretty simple, actually: when Jon says \u201cAny requests\u201d or \u201cLet\u2019s have a request\u201d or something like that, you yell out your request. Conversely, when Jon doesn\u2019t ask for requests, you don\u2019t yell for them. You definitely don\u2019t yell for them throughout the entire show.<\/p>\n
– I had come to terms with a new venue and more people and a different atmosphere. However, as we were waiting for the curtains to part, I had a sinking terror about what the stage would look like. What if the piano wasn\u2019t stage right? What if there was a ridiculous backdrop? Rest assured the stage was a familiar sight for Largo regulars (Viking helmet and all). Only a few (positive) tweaks: the drum area no longer looks like a death trap and is properly illuminated, and the stage is a bit larger which means Jon can jump around a bit more and also has to move a bit faster during his transition from drums to piano.<\/p>\n
– Largo\u2019s cell phone policy: exactly the same. God bless. <\/p>\n