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Last month, I reviewed Jonatha's sterling album, Plumb>, on Blue Thumb Recordings and the next day got on the horn to NYC and requested to review this Siren when she came to L.A. Yes, Jonatha Brooke is a Siren, and I would gladly dash a 40 foot Bennetteau against the rocks if she called my name from shoreline.
The Troubadour is notorious as the springboard for any number of world famous acts in the world of music. Up in The Loft, a monitor runs a loop of Troubadour Alumni who have gone on to fame and considerable fortune.
You can also, although I don't know why you would, remain up in The Loft and look down at the stage while the band plays and a little speaker informs you of the sound occurring just millimeters beyond the plexiglass portal. I prefer the wind created in live performance, so I did not linger that long up in The Loft.
I left The Loft just as Kevin Gilbert was readying to reprise his Tribute to Led Zeppelin with a stirring rendition of Kashmir. Kevin's lead guitarist for the gig was quite handy and played the Jimmy Page parts with great delight, from there I think Kevin segued into Achilles' Last Stand or something like that. It was Groovy and affirmed my lasting love for Led Zeppelin.
A couple minutes later, Jonatha came on stage with the sound of an adoring crowd ringing in her ears. She wore a Bazoomba T-Shirt that looks like the old Bazooka bubble gum wrappers...I much prefer Jonatha's wrapper. Adidas Gazelles covered her lovely, skillful feet and form- fitting black jeans sheathed her lithe, supple legs. Hey man, I'm in Love...
From the moment Jonatha parted her lips to sing the first song, War, she had the Troubadour in her expressive hands...and never let go. Kevin Gilbert sang the Bruce Cochburn parts with effortless skill on War, which is a startling, searing song that Jonatha's voice spreads on you like jelly over warm butter on a perfect piece of toast.
Is it me, or has anyone else noticed that 1995 is turning out to be the year of the female vocalist? The Grammy judges are all going to be bald, pulling their hair out to pick their choice for this category. My choice for Best Female Vocalist of 1995 is Jonatha Brooke. Jonatha is a crack recording artist and come time for live performance this Siren will shatter you emotionally. Remember the Ella Fitzgerald/Memorex commercials? The shattered glass is my Soul after Jonatha's voice takes hold. Oh, my dear woman, I am forever your slave...can I be Your Roadie?
Jonatha is great at handling a crowd and works the intimacy of a room like The Troubadour to her advantage. The stories she shares with the crowd made them laugh or ponder to the point of pin-dropping silence. The one story she told of a black friend getting fucked-over trying to get medical help in South Africa hushed the crowd to the point where not even the bartenders moved. The pet stories were cool...
Sound was handled deftly by the great John Tripeny who represents Schubert Systems. The sound at The Troubadour was recording studio quality and probably one of the best live mixes I've heard all year.
Jonatha's band is full of NYC hitmen. These guys can wax any crowd. Jonatha's duetist female sidekick is worthy of mention for her sense of humor alone...
From The Troubadour, Jonatha & The Story were headed to the Belly Up in Solana Beach and then on to the Stephanie Miller Show and over to a taping for Friday Nite Videos. I dig this Artist. Jonatha Brooke...I Dig Your
Scene.
Let's marry and have a tribe of kids and raise them on the North Shore of Long Island...from my mouth to God's Ears.
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