Jenny Lewis plays intimate pop-up show at Nashville's Soft Junk, here are the top moments
Jenny Lewis brought joy to all on Tuesday night at her intimate pop-up show at East Nashville's Soft Junk.
The "Joy'All" singer, known for songs "Psychos," "Puppy and a Truck" and "Cherry Baby," hit the stage in front of a small crowd to perform a set that was recorded straight to tape and VHS.
The concert, announced on Monday night, sold out its only 69 tickets in a matter of minutes.
As an East Nashville local, this show was right in Lewis' backyard and showcased her exactly in her element.
Stars, music industry folks and fans alike filed into Nicholas Schurman's music venue Soft Junk, a small event space decorated with trippy art pieces and colorful ornamentation. Even country singer Kacey Musgraves and singer-songwriter Robyn Hitchcock were in attendance at Lewis' show.
Opening act Logan Ledger, a country singer who opened for Lewis at her Ryman Auditorium show in March, kicked off the show at 8 p.m.
Ledger is best known for songs off of his 2020 album, "Logan Ledger," including "(I'm Gonna Get Over This) Some Day" and "Starlight."
After Ledger warmed up the crowd, Lewis took the stage in an all-black get-up with feathers on the cuffs of her sleeves and her collar.
Holding a red solo cup, Lewis said, "Welcome to Howdywood, y'all," referencing the venue's giant sign that reads "Howdywood" outside. She was all smiles at her intimate gathering; it felt more like Lewis' house party than an official concert.
Lewis and her band The Daffodils — comprised of Megan Coleman, Jess Nolan, Nicole Lawrence and Ryan Madora — opened the show with song "Just One Of The Guys" as red lights flooded the venue and a fog machine chugged along.
Lewis sang tunes "Do Si Do" and "She's Not Me" as she worked the stage, dancing among the energetic, thumping basslines of her songs. Rainbow lights flashed on the back wall of Soft Junk while crowd members sang along.
Throughout the night, the show had an intimate and light feel. The bar served Red Bull and Hennessy, an homage to Lewis' song by that name.
Lewis talked to the crowd like pals, asking if they were on Tinder, Grindr or Raya, admitting she is on the dating app Raya, but finds the options dismal. "Anyone here polyamorous?," she asked curiously.
Aside from the banter, Lewis also shared some of her musical backstories with the audience.
Before song "Rise Up With Fists!!," Lewis addressed the crowd. "A friend of mine asked me to make a solo record in 2005," she said.
"And I said, 'Well I'm in a band, I don't really know how to do that.' And he said, 'Well, if you write 10 songs, I'll put them out for you.' So I sat down...this was the first one that I wrote of the 10," Lewis said. Then the Watson Twins joined her onstage, wearing matching black outfits.
Long-time collaborators of Lewis', the Watson Twins and Lewis released album "Rabbit Fur Coat" in 2006, which includes "Rise Up With Fists!!"
The three gave a hearty performance that, of course, involved throwing their fists in the air as they harmonized.
Lewis would welcome the Watson Twins back to the stage to sing alongside her a few times throughout the evening, including an impressive appearance on the song "See Fernando." The tune was one of the highlights of the show, bringing contagious energy, a dance break and soaring vocals.
Other highlights were Lewis' eclectic covers.
She sang a hearty version of country singer Keith Whitley's "Miami, My Amy" and San Francisco rock group Girls' song "Lust for Life." Lewis also performed the song "Guns" by her group Nice as F***, comprised of Lewis, Erika Forster and Tennessee Thomas.
Lewis closed out the evening with a very bluesy rendition of "The Next Messiah" with the Watson Twins and a soulful version of "Acid Tongue."
For the last song of the show, all the band members stepped away from their instruments, Logan Ledger and the twins hit the stage, and the band huddled by Lewis, who played her acoustic guitar.
A fitting end to a show in the psychedelically-decorated Soft Junk, the crew harmonized on a bare-bones performance of "Acid Tongue" that held gentle, yet air-piercing harmonies.
They sang, "'Cause I've been down to Dixie and dropped acid on my tongue / Tripped upon the land 'til enough was enough... We built ourselves a fire (Fire) / You know I am a liar (Liar)."
Jenny Lewis's Soft Junk Nashville Set List
Just One Of The Guys
Do Si Do
She's Not Me
Joy'all
Rise Up With Fists!!
Giddy Up
Cherry Baby
Psychos
Slippery Slopes
Red Bull & Hennessy
Miami, My Amy (Keith Whitley cover)
See Fernando
Puppy and a Truck
Lust For Life (Girls cover)
Guns (by Nice as F*** )
The Next Messiah
Acid Tongue
For more information on Jenny Lewis, head to jennylewis.com.
Audrey Gibbs is a music reporter at The Tennessean. You can reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Jenny Lewis plays intimate pop-up concert at Nashville's Soft Junk
