She & Him

Welcome back Patsy Cline, my how we've missed you.

Infused with the essence of classic country, updated with a touch of modern folk, a touch of pop (but not so much that it becomes unpleasant) and reinforced with well-crafted lyrics and a talented array of musicianship, the possibilities for greatness can only be assumed; the formula is there, the result is She & Him.

Formed from the mind of Zooey Deschanel, who, bred from the seeds of talent, cut a demo a few years back and calculatingly sent it to M. Ward, who clearly saw the talent and potential for something amazing. She & Him was formed shortly thereafter, and their first album stood as a shining example of what the two were capable of. Well, two years later, the duo are back with their second collection of songs, aptly entitled, Volume Two. As more than just a fan of the first record, I was eager to catch up on what the pair had been working on over the past couple of years, and certainly the anticipation did not end in disappointment. So, while both studio collectives had wowed me through speaker and headphone, I had yet to soak in the affects of what they could do under a spotlight; and so, with tickets in hand, to The Sound Academy we trekked, and a worthwhile journey it was.

First off, it would be avoiding the obvious if I didn't bring up most of our familiarity with Zooey from her acting career; but while Elf, 500 Days of Summer and others remain very good films, it would be unfair to base her musical popularity solely on some existing silver screen stardom. I wont say that it likely didn't hurt that she was an already common name amongst the public, but that really shouldn't suggest that she is an actress first and a musician second. In fact, without disrespecting her abilities in front of the camera, I would feel completely comfortable stating that the reverse is true; her honest passion clearly lies within the structure of her music. However it is you want to list her talents, or whatever works you choose to spend the most time with, she can act, she can sing, she can write, she can play and she's got a look and presence that screams out folk appeal.

Anyway, back to the point: the show was successful in just about every way I had hoped it to be. The music was spot on, with that little extra you hope for when seeing a performer play live; adding on a bar or two here and there, switching up a solo, ripping out a fun cover tune, they did what they set out to do with vigor and the dermination to satisfy. Save for one small insignificant detail of the evening, I'd say it was a perfect show; and while I couldn't hear a word Zooey said into the mic between songs, when she sang through verse and chorus she belted out the notes and articulated each phrase seamlessly.

So, Zooey's got talent, that's apparent from my ranting, but to focus solely on her is to do an injustice to the other half of the group, Him: M. Ward. He has been in my CD collection over the years because of his effortless and catchy song writing. His talents have earned him the right to appear as a guest to other artists on other records, and he's part of a relatively recent collaborative effort entitled The Monsters of Folk. Again, without needing to analyze his entire catalogue, suffice it to say that the guy has charisma, charm, and a monster talent in music. I might strongly suggest you go out and pick up his latest solo effort, entitled Hold Time, a worthwhile investment after purchasing Volume Two.

Yes, the duo has chemistry between them, and it works so well for us as listeners. Ward and his guitar/vocal talent, Deschanel and her charming personality/lyrical styling; their performance has me wanting to see them play again soon, but for now I'll gladly continue enjoying the tracks of both records as they dance through my stereo speakers.

Bouncing around with the tambourine, playing duets on the piano and crooning to the call and answer routine of You Really Got a Hold on Me, She & Him have presence both on and off the stage, so do yourselves a favour and check out the recommendations below to see just how this band is working at updating our perception of modern country folk.

That's all from me right now, so happy listening.

Phil

My Space:
http://www.myspace.com/sheandhim

Recommended listening:

In The Sun (seriously check out the fun times video with this one too)
Change is Hard

You Really Got A Hold On Me

Thieves

Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?