Jenny Lewis @ The Anthem [DC] - 9/5/2019
Jenny Lewis at The Anthem (Photo by Kyle Gustafson)
"It's not as easy as it looks," Jenny Lewis deadpanned to the audience as she slinked up a short set of stairs to a stage riser at the front of stage. She was talking about navigating the steps in her skintight, floor-length sequined gown, but she easily could have been describing her near-flawless show last Thursday at The Anthem. Lewis worked hard at (and succeeded) making sure the show at the cavernous venue, full of Vegas-styled pomp, stayed as intimate as possible.
Taking the stage to Tommy TuTone's "867-5309 (Jenny)" (LOL) Lewis opened the show behind a piano, playing "Heads Gonna Roll" ad "Wasted Youth", the first two tracks from her latest album, On The Line. Standout tracks included the album's first single, "Red Bull & Hennessey" as well as the Beck produced "Little White Dove", a Top 10 country song if country radio programmers had one ounce of adventurousness.
2014's The Voyager was well represented, with a funky remix of the title track and a superb version of "Slippery Slopes", a song I am sure Veruca Salt are furious they did not write back in the late 90's. Late in the set, the audience sang along to the Rilo Kiley tune "With Arms Outstretched", lighting up the venue with their mobile phone lights. Openers The Watson Twins joined her onstage during the encore for the last songs of the night, including a rousing "Rise Up With Fists!!".
Lewis, a former child actor, has had a remarkable music career, constantly evolving her sound and embracing her role as a stage performer. I can’t wait to see what she does next.
