Two incredible Jon Brion performances in the Bay Area last weekend.
The first opening for Of Montreal. Some rock solid originals, sprinkled with some mighty fine covers of Billie Holiday, My Bloody Valentine, The Beatles, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, and Daft Punk.
The next night at Cafe Du Nord... further affirmation that, as many times as I see him, he still comes up with ways to amaze and move me. Covers of Cole Porter, Roxy Music, Emitt Rhodes, and Brian Eno.... along with some exceptionally chosen originals.
His sets now include a video projector and a host of video clips that he layers, loops, and manipulates live while scoring. He played an old Felix The Cat cartoon, scored it and merged that score into an almost ragtime version of Lithium.
Finished with a epic and devastatingly beautiful cover of Voices, by Cheap Trick, accompanied by old footage and sounds of a theramin being played and a mariachi band playing a song about longing and loss of a former lover who was far away.
My girlfriend captured a couple videos throughout the night... something I can never bring myself to do during a show, but appreciate watching when someone else can. I'll post 'em when she posts 'em.
All you LA folks who haven't been to see him, or haven't seen him in a while, should find your way out to Largo at the Coronet and see what he's up to nowadays.
