On Thursday me and my Dad (whaaat? he's cooool!) hit the Commodore to see Jamie Cullum in concert. Now, I know some people have mixed feelings about Mr. Cullum and whether he's a jazz sellout or a pop artist with some "jazzy" tendencies who shouldn't be listened to without taking Rolaids first, but you know what? The kid put on one of the most amazing shows I have ever seen. First of all, the Commodore is such a grand old place. We sat at one of the tables that flank the dance floor. My dad says he has pictures of his parents dancing there in 1945. I don't think that much has changed. So we sat staring around at the old windows, the art deco bar, and the sweeping staircases while having a drink and waiting for the show to start.
Josh Ritter (no, not the one from Joan of Arcadia) opened for Jamie. He was OK. 'Nuff said. His whole band was dressed in too-small, vaguely retroish suits with vests (not matching) and scraggly hair and beards, in true "look at me! I'm INDIE!" fashion.
Jamie and his band played for over two hours, running through his stuff from "Twentysomething" and "Catching Tails," but also jamming when the mood struck Jamie. He doesn't just sit and play his piano...he climbs on TOP of the piano, plays the piano with the stool, pounds on the keys, plays percussion on the lid...it was something to see. He must need a new piano every few shows. Apparently he never took any kind of music lessons; he's completely self-taught. Amazing.
He did a great segment where he covered some of the tripe being played on the Beat and Z95.3 at the moment...he started by saying he'd had a really weird dream the other night about Kelly Clarkson and Charlie Parker, and then launched into a fabulous, Jamie-fied jazz version of "Since You've Been Gone," which launched into a little beatboxing/jam session where he did "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley, "SexyBack" by my Justin, and that awful Pussycat Dolls Song ("Don'tcha wish your girlfriend was hoooot like meeeee"). It was quite hilarious. He also did a great version of "Seven Nation Army" by the White Stripes. I don't know how he wasn't hoarse or at least totally dehydrated, by the end of the show. He sang and played his heart out. It was great show and I was sad when it ended, despite the fact that he must have been exhausted; I'll see him anytime he comes to Vancouver. Nevermind that I don't own even one of his CDs. He is not to be missed live. He definitely has "it," that stage presence that marks a performer for greatness.
Josh Ritter (no, not the one from Joan of Arcadia) opened for Jamie. He was OK. 'Nuff said. His whole band was dressed in too-small, vaguely retroish suits with vests (not matching) and scraggly hair and beards, in true "look at me! I'm INDIE!" fashion.
Jamie and his band played for over two hours, running through his stuff from "Twentysomething" and "Catching Tails," but also jamming when the mood struck Jamie. He doesn't just sit and play his piano...he climbs on TOP of the piano, plays the piano with the stool, pounds on the keys, plays percussion on the lid...it was something to see. He must need a new piano every few shows. Apparently he never took any kind of music lessons; he's completely self-taught. Amazing.
He did a great segment where he covered some of the tripe being played on the Beat and Z95.3 at the moment...he started by saying he'd had a really weird dream the other night about Kelly Clarkson and Charlie Parker, and then launched into a fabulous, Jamie-fied jazz version of "Since You've Been Gone," which launched into a little beatboxing/jam session where he did "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley, "SexyBack" by my Justin, and that awful Pussycat Dolls Song ("Don'tcha wish your girlfriend was hoooot like meeeee"). It was quite hilarious. He also did a great version of "Seven Nation Army" by the White Stripes. I don't know how he wasn't hoarse or at least totally dehydrated, by the end of the show. He sang and played his heart out. It was great show and I was sad when it ended, despite the fact that he must have been exhausted; I'll see him anytime he comes to Vancouver. Nevermind that I don't own even one of his CDs. He is not to be missed live. He definitely has "it," that stage presence that marks a performer for greatness.