She & Him serenade Philadelphia [Review]

Posted on July 30, 2008

There’s a review of She & Him’s July 25th Trocadero Theater (Philadelphia) performance at phillyBurbs.com:

When doe-eyed movie star Zooey Deschanel took her place on stage next to esteemed indie-rock collaborator and musician M. Ward at the Trocadero Theater in Philadelphia, it had all the makings of a freshly-fixed peanut butter and jelly sandwich—sugary sweetness, nutty flavor and a healthy dose of unassuming sustenance all rolled into one.

The charismatic couple, who released their debut album, Volume One, under the tag She & Him, walked out to enthusiastic applause from a sold-out crowd that crammed into every nook and cranny of the old opera house. Deschanel sparkled in a glittering, disco-ball dress, complimented by a blue bow tied in her hair. In contrast, M.Ward, with the exception of a pink rose pinned to his shirt, looked understated in a navy button-up top. In fact, the duo’s wardrobe choices seemed to reflect the overall goal of the evening—let Deschanel shine.

However, the honey-toned songstress didn’t exactly look comfortable taking the spotlight. As the band opened with the country glide of “Change is Hard,” Deschanel looked stiff and awkwardly clung to her microphone stand. Despite this rigidity, the singer’s vocals melted effortlessly into a spellbinding cadence that was heart-warming and strong.

The first couple of songs, which included the whistle-laden “I Thought I Saw Your Face Today” and the beachy, swinging “I Was Made For You,” saw Deschanel transitioning from shaking a tambourine front and center to sitting demurely at a piano, stage right. The beginning of the set took on a slightly haphazard nature with a few minor sound problems that had Deschanel jokingly mumbling, “You can’t hear me? I’ve got a microphone” with her signature, dead-pan delivery. These small shortcomings proved to be ineffectual as the performers maintained a sense of humor and played their songs flawlessly.

The band then took a short hiatus and left Ward and Deschanel alone on stage to perform a stripped-down cover of Smokey Robinson’s “You Really Got a Hold on Me.” Ward stepped up to provide backing vocals as Deschanel showed her vulnerability and crooned softly underneath dim lights. The audience lightly clapped to the beat as the couple finished off the captivating duet. The two went on to perform three more songs including the warbling, dreamlike waltz of “Take it Back” with Deschanel expertly tinkering at the piano, and a new song with an old-timey feel called “Thieves Among Us.”

For the rustic groove “Got Me,” the band, complete with a pregnant bass player and a full-suited drummer, returned to the stage, and the outfit as a whole finally seemed to hit its stride. Becky Stark, from the band Lavender Diamond, bopped in the background and showcased her own strong set of pipes, fleshing out songs such as “This Is Not A Test” and “Sentimental Heart.” By the time the band played the plucky, retro-spunk tune “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?” Deschanel’s earlier inhibitions had obviously vanished as she bounced around the stage. She even pulled off some coy, shoulder-shrugging dance moves as Ward dabbled at the piano during the band’s finishing number “Sweet Darlin.” Before leaving the stage, the two demonstrated their quirkiness with a synchronized bow to the audience, met by thunderous applause from fans.

Within seconds of their departure, the audience began calling for more—the floor dwellers continued to hoot and holler as the balcony patrons stomped their feet in syncopated rhythm. Deschanel, sipping water, made her way back on stage followed closely by Ward and the rest of the band to play a three-song encore that included Ward’s own rambling number “Magic Trick” and a sway-inducing cover of Smokey Robinson’s “Bring It on Home to Me.” For their final performance She & Him brought the members of opening band, Freakwater, back on stage to join them in a camaraderie-filled cover of “Hello Stranger” by bluegrass icons Flatt and Scruggs. Deschanel, without any sort of pretense, scampered to join Stark on backing vocals and allowed the leading ladies of Freakwater to share in the limelight.

After the performers thanked the audience, Ward exited from the stage followed by a bounding Deschanel who blew kisses and clumsily curtsied, solidifying her lovability with the Philadelphia crowd.

With her syrupy voice and bewitching presence mixed with his technical know-how and creative oeuvre, Deschanel and Ward are well on their way to becoming indie-pop’s perfect pair.

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