Karen Jonas wears, lives and bleeds her songs. Sometimes that is all you want from an artist. Flank yourself with two fine musicians and you are fully armed to take your music on the road. That roads starts in Fredericksburg Virginia and tonight called in Kings Heath Birmingham. Country music can split right down the middle to an intuitive mind. Opportunistic pretence can project some, while realistic reluctance can define others. Karen Jonas never intended her music to land in country or Americana circles, but they were destined to hook up with her.
Two key components of Karen Jonas music had to be left at home. Drums can often stretch the travelling band, while the big stand up bass falls to practicalities. To the left of her on stage tonight, Seth Morrissey kept impeccable time on diminutive bass. To the right the best guitarist in Virginia Tim Bray made us temporarily forget how the missing drums would enhance. If Bray was a permanent fixture on the UK music scene, accolades would overload him.
Hard yards in digital and long distance promotion has got the music of Karen Jonas known overseas. A long way from the four kids and hectic life at home. Like all true to their soul artists, she has followed the albums, singles, EPs and videos up and got herself here. Now watch the pieces prosper.
The two sets delivered this evening were split with songs on origin lines. Karen Jonas is partial to a cover especially one that brings the best out of her influences and band. Cash, Springsteen, Lucinda, Isaak, Shaver and Henley ain’t popping down left field, but the fairly standard choices felt right in the moment. Bray lapped up all the licks from rock to country while Jonas melted splendidly in the adaptive vocals on 'I’m on Fire'.
Ultimately it is the original song that defines a touring artist in the wider world of country and Americana. (Yes she has landed right in the heart of those scenes in the UK). On that front there were plenty of Karen Jonas penned pieces that came from the heart, head, imagination and right in front of her. They stretched her catalogue from the title track of her 2014 debut 'Oklahoma Lottery' to 'The Last Cowboy (At the Bowling Alley)' which opened her most recent full length release, THE SOUTH WEST SKY AND OTHER DREAMS. That last album had most traction over here and cemented her potential.
Admittedly the music of Karen Jonas can occasionally work the listener. However that notion is binned when she brings it right to your doorstep. Songs like 'Butter', 'Country Song', 'Out in Palm Paradise' and 'The Garden' all seamlessly transmitted from studio to stage. Perhaps the pick of the set list was 'Tuesday.' A tough choice from a heady pile.
This Kitchen Garden show was only the 3rd UK gig for Karen Jonas. Flying in on Thursday meant straight off the plane to play a set at the Maverick Festival on Friday. Logistically it was smart to split the Biddulph- London journey with a fuel stop in Birmingham. Dedicated fans appreciated this move and were handsomely rewarded with a top notch show.
The more you listen, watch and take in the musical experience of Karen Jonas, the more you piece together the influences, intent and reluctance. There was never any chance that the smart side of country and Americana was not going to buy into the music of this unscripted Virginian who is just likely following the destined path of her dreams. A small part of Birmingham wholeheartedly did just that tonight.
