It may have been a cold Autumn night in London, but in a sharp contrast, the atmosphere in Camden’s Koko was warm, cosy and inviting as Jenny Lewis and band took to the stage.
You could have been forgiven for thinking that you were miles across the Atlantic Ocean as Lewis, toting an acoustic guitar and cowboy hat, swigs on a beer and thanked the crowd in her best Southern drawl.
Her new album, Acid Tongue was released a couple of weeks earlier and initial impressions suggested the crowd were made up mainly of Lewis devotees and Rilo Kiley fans willing to give her solo work another listen. The set was a mix of soft country ballads and upbeat rock ‘n roll. There was great energy on stage throughout the night, as Lewis switched regularly between her guitar and a piano, and highlights of the night included Bad Man’s World, a duet with support artist Benji Hughes, a heart-felt rendition of Acid Tongue and a fast-paced, poppy new song which Lewis informed us was about cults.
The songs from the new album translated fantastically on stage, and the overall sound was excellent. Lewis has a strong and distinctive voice, but I couldn’t help feeling that it’s better applied when out with the country-tinged Americana, as with her other work, and if you’re a fan of Rilo Kiley, then you may find Lewis’ solo stuff a little harder to get in to.
