JJ Grey on the other hand... he is quickly becoming a musician I'd travel across the country to see. Last night I ventured down to Evanston, IL (northern suburb of Chicago) to see JJ in a small club known as S.P.A.C.E. The smallest venue I'd been to before last night was the Riverside Theatre in Milwaukee, which holds a couple thousand. Last night there was no more than 200 people. I felt like I was in an art gallery rather than a concert "venue". Back in 2007, I saw Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds in an acoustic show at UMASS but it was no where near the same feel as last night because that show was in the schools basketball arena with at least 7,000+ people. Not saying the show wasn't amazing, but it didn't feel like the right venue for an acoustic show. Last night (I was late and missed the opener) was much more intimate. We sat in regular chairs, drinks were brought to your seats, and you could actually see JJ himself, hard not to when you're sitting no more than 20 ft away.
Taking the stage around 9:30 I felt like a kid waiting to open presents on Christmas with butterflies in my stomach, the same feeling I get when I'm at a DMB show. I knew I was in for a treat. Seeing two bottles of Corona and a glass of whiskey, I knew he was ready for a good night. He sat down, said hello, and started the show with one of my favorite songs "Hide and Seek". I didn't know what to expect as this was only my 2nd acoustic and 2nd JJ Grey show. From the first notes I was blown away. The man's voice and guitar takes somewhere in the south, during the summer, beer (or liquor) in hand, sitting on a porch, sun, sunglasses, beach, water, the works. You can't help but feel at home when he's singing. Continuing on with the show he sang "Beautiful World" and "Better Days". To me what makes the show incredible is that it's not flashy, there is no light show, no fancy graphics. Just the man, his guitar, harmonicas, a few drinks and a microphone. Yet you are mesmerized for 2 hours while he sings. That to me is the real tell of a good performer.
Something that's great about this type of show, is not just the music. Of course that's what initially makes you want to buy the ticket. But last night I was just as entertained by the stories that JJ told the crowd, who seemingly held onto every word like he were Socrates and you were one of his philosophy students. Despite what I like the call the "Drunk Housewives of Chicago" who seemingly were trying to steal the spotlight from him, his interactions with the crowd were fun. Looking to the ladies saying "It sounds like a bad 79's porno over there" makes you laugh because they think it's a compliment, when no, we're all just laughing at you. Now these ladies were almost asked by many people around us to STFU, but we refrained after JJ explained "It's like we're all down in Jacksonville, my home town, on the front porch. We can do just about anything except for fighting". Hearing where the inspiration for the songs is almost as good as the songs themselves. Just to hear him say things like "now I'm shitfaced" as he finishes his glass of whiskey makes it worth it. Makes him normal, human. You get a sense of vulnerability when he speaks about writing "The Sweetest Thing" for his daughter. My favorite story of the night came before his steamy, raunchy, dirty song "Slow, Hot and Sweaty" I'm sure you can figure out just what the song is about. He explained the first time that his mother, father, and grandmother heard the song. The embarrassment of his mother telling him "I hope you're happy, you just wrote the filthiest song I've ever heard without using a cuss word"and yet the hilarity in looking at his father shaking his head silently saying "you're on your own son". But it didn't end there, looking next to him was his grandmother, expecting the worst, yet there she was, rocking out, thinking of the days when she got slow hot and sweaty.
I've seen some amazing musicians in the concerts I have attended, but for some reason JJ has got something different. It might be that this is the first southern rock/bluegrass/memphis blues kind of musician I've really listened to so I'm still learning the style, but his skills on the guitar really amazed me. Didn't need a drum, because you could hear his boot hitting the stage as he kept the beat. Almost feel it in your chest. Watching his fingers work the strings of the guitar is incredible, especially when he records a loop of a few measures to play as background then goes into a solo. Astounding. Even if it wasn't the type of show to stand up and dance like a fool around the stage, you can't help but tap your foot and bob your head as he plays. It's infectious, makes you want more.
With all this being said, if you haven't listened to JJ Grey (and MOFRO) I suggest you do so immediately. I was hooked from the first song back in October and I can't wait to get to see them more. If you find him/them playing at a venue nearby, go. Don't think twice, go. You'll regret it if you don't, I promise. If you don't enjoy yourself, I will give you your money back personally (and I will determine if your reasons are worthy of the money).
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