Joanna Newsom Does BAM -- and Does It Well

So, I saw Joanna Newsom at BAM last night, and oh my goodness, it was a near transcendent experience! Joined by the Brooklyn Philharmonic (the hippest philharmonic on the block these days) and her touring band, Newsom sang the entirety of her 2006 album Ys, took a break and then sang some old chestnuts and newbies. My favorite of her newest, which she claimed wasn’t even finished yet, had the working title of “Barbara.” An added bonus of the evening was seeing her new boo Andy Samberg in the audience alongside his Lonely Island chums, Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler! They were sort of seated in the middle of the theater, and when the show ended, they kept sitting, so as we all exited the theater, everyone was kind of staring at them as if they were dioramas at the Natural History Museum!

Also, being that it’s Fashion Week, I must mention the incredible hot pink number Newsom donned for the second half of her show. It reminded me of the Chrysler Building -- if the Chrylser Building were hot pink!

Seeing last night’s show inspired me to go back to my notes from my 2006 interview with Newsom. I asked her, “On some of the songs on Ys, particularly Sawdust & Diamonds, you're singing much more forcefully than on The Milk-Eyed Mender. It feels more emotionally charged -- was this a conscious shift?”

And she responded:

"Well, I do think I was aware, when making those recordings -- and I continue to be aware, every time I play these songs -- that they drum up something particular for me. It's like playing Bloody Mary as a little kid -- standing in the dark bathroom, staring at the mirror, saying her name three times and promising yourself that you're not gonna get scared... but every fool time, like clockwork, you get so scared... With these songs, every time I play them, a particular mood and a particular set of thoughts wells right up and sits there lumping in my throat. Not bad thoughts or bad feelings... just sort of, very strong I guess."

Gotta love that Joanna. I really and truly cannot wait till her next album -- if the new songs she played are any indication, it's gonna be a real doozy.

Photo of Joanna byKyle Dean Reinford