Indie folk-pop duo She & Him wrapped its 2010 tour at the Orpheum on Sunday night, and did it ever do it in style.
M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel wasted no time proving why their pairing just a few years ago has become one that makes a whole lot of sense: Ward’s deft musical handling of Deschanel’s quirky, pop throwback songwriting makes for some pretty gorgeous tunes, which the duo has released on its two spellbinding records, Volume One and Volume Two. (Will there be a Volume Three? Apparently, yes.)
There was a bit of magic in the air at the Orpheum Sunday, beginning with a mesmerizing performance by folk duo the Chapin Sisters, who also happen to be the two female backup singers for She & Him’s full-band incarnation. And as a full band (complete with bass, drums, backup keys and guitars, chimes and more), She & Him delivered. Ward and Deschanel quickly hit some of their high points, including Black Hole and Don’t Look Back, which had Deschanel, dressed in a sleeveless black dress, jumping up and down, slamming and shaking her tambourine.
Ward spent most of the evening providing textures, his fuzzy guitar tones oozing off the stage, his dry vocals complementing Deschanel’s otherworldly, retro voice on Lingering Still and, later, on a stripped down You Really Got A Hold On Me. Ward even got the opportunity to have a star turn of his own with Magic Trick (from his fantastic 2006 solo album Post War), Deschanel strumming along on the ukulele and the whole band joining in for the jam. What a treat.
Ultimately (and not surprisingly), Deschanel was the centre of attention, and fans peppered her trying to address the crowd for a recap of the tour that ended in Vancouver on Sunday night with more than a few “I love you Zooey!!” which she seemed to brush aside with a sigh. If the novelty of having one of Hollywood’s quirkiest acting figures/models singing her own songs in her own band has long worn off, there is still a strange aura surrounding her. Sometimes, it felt as if Deschanel stayed slightly detached from the proceedings, whether finding shelter behind her Fender Rhodes piano (which she played with gusto, by the way), asking the crowd to stop clapping along during a cover of the Beach Boys’ Wouldn’t It Be Nice (which was a bit weird), or backing away from the front of the stage after requesting people to stand up and dance before In The Sun and a cover of Chuck Berry’s Roll Over Beethoven (which probably had to do with not wanting to be grabbed at).
Style over substance? Certainly not. She & Him boasts some incredible material, which is proof of both Ward and Deschanel’s skills and chemistry as a duo. As for Deschanel as a singer, just check out her show-stopping performance of Nina Simone’s I Put A Spell On You, which ended the evening. The girl’s got some serious pipes.
