“Am I talking too much?” Jonatha Brooke wondered out loud near the end of almost two hours of a show that was equal parts entertaining, intriguing and informative.
The answer was a resounding “no,” as one of folk-rock’s most engaging women reached into her deep songbook and rich life experiences to deliver the goods to a satisfied Denver audience.
Brooke performs primarily as a solo artist these days, the luxury of supporting musicians, tour managers and roadies a thing of the past. But she has more to offer a crowd than her seductive songs, soothing voice and endearing stage presence.
She has stories, plenty of them, to tell, and takes her time while choosing from an impressive catalog of music to provide every intimate detail. No subject is off limits, whether it’s Elton John, George Michael, Madonna, Peter Pan, “kick-ass” yoga workouts, her ex-mother-in-law, the Boston Red Sox or “Pimp and Ho’s Night” in San Diego.
Nearing the end of a lengthy tour run promoting the August 2008 release of The Works, which pairs her music with the words of Woody Guthrie, Brooke made each of the 250 patrons at the sold-out venue feel like they were getting a one-to-one sitdown with a remarkably accomplished singer/songwriter/entrepreneur/collaborator/ commentator.
That job description hardly matches Guthrie’s words about himself (“the maniac, the saint, the sinner, the drinker, the thinker, the queer / I am the Works, the whole Works”), and doesn’t come close to summing up this self-made woman who stays ahead of the pop culture curve. After all, she formed her own label (Bad Dog Records) after getting dropped by MCA in the middle of a 1998 tour; her songs are winding up in movies (Return to Never Land and edgy TV shows (Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse); and, as a recording artist, she’s one of hot pop tart Katy Perry’s top three inspirations. (If you don’t believe it, check out page 68 of April’s Vanity Fair or see below.)
If she wanted to add talk-show host to her long list of credits, Brooke easily could. She has a quick wit and engaging personality that would give even the most brilliant late-night yakkers a run for their money. Only she can carry a tune, and carry it well, needing just an acoustic guitar and electric piano as accompaniment. No backing tracks or backup singers required.
Playing at The Soiled Dove, a club that’s cozy and classy (despite using the term for a prostitute from the Wild West), reminded Brooke of a career low point. About 10 years ago, only 10 or 12 people showed up for her early appearance, long before the crowds arrived for the main attraction – “Pimp and Ho’s Night.” She needed two gin and tonics to make it through her set, leaving the few in attendance with “one of my most memorable performances.”
Article comments
1 - schridla
GREAT review. I agree that I enjoyed all her stories and her songs. She is truly a talented artist. I did not realize that she had done the theme song for Dollhouse.