Carmel, IN. – Singer-Songwriter RICKIE LEE JONES has been gracing audiences across the globe with her unique style of Jazz, R & B, Rock, American Songbook Classics and even Trip-Hop for almost 50 years. Dubbed the “Duchess of Coolsville” by TIME MAGAZINE in 1979, Rickie has continued to explore the boundaries of her muse and give us beautiful thought-provoking music. Friday evening was no exception.
Strolling onto the stage in a fancy track suit and tennis shoes, accompanied by only an acoustic guitar, piano and percussionist/vibraphonist MIKE DILLON, Rickie Lee looked comfortable and happy. The audience filled the 500 seat BOOTH TARKINGTON CIVIC THEATRE in Carmel, IN., as Rickie proceeded to take us on a 90-minute journey through her catalogue of music that included fan favorites, along with a new tune not yet recorded.
I was mesmorized by the way she captivated the audience; telling stories about how songs came to be or directing the audience to sing along to the chorus. This was a very different Rickie Lee than the first time I saw her back in 1990 on The Flying Cowboys tour. She seemed softer, gentler, almost vulnerable at times.
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A highlight of the evening was when Rickie started to play “Love is Gonna Bring Us Back Alive” commenting she was looking for her guitar pick. Telling the crowd she often doesn’t use a pick and when she does she always drops it and loses it. You saw Mike Dillon go to look for a pick walking off stage and then back on shaking his head. Rickie joked with the audience asking if anyone happened to have a pick to just throw it up on stage. Indiana’s own singer-songwriter FRANK DEAN (owner of FRANK’S GUITARS in Franklin, IN.) approached the stage and saved the moment handing Rickie a pick. Rickie not only thanked him but commented “And he’s good looking too” which thoroughly amused the hometown crowd. Later in the set, after several smooches on the guitar pick, Rickie walked to the front of stage to return the pick to Frank. They had a quick private conversation and Rickie returned to center stage with pick still in hand; laying it on the piano for another time. It was a terrific moment and one of many to take place Friday evening.
Another highlight was her emotional rendition of Julie London’s “Cry Me A River” followed by a lovely story/memory of Little Feat’s Lowell George before closing the night with “Easy Money”. Rickie did not give us an encore but she didn’t need to. She’d already given so much of herself in that 90 minutes! I was honored to have witnessed this performance of such a great artist; stripped down and unadorned in such an intimate setting.
SETLIST: CARMEL, IN.
- WEASEL AND THE WHITE BOYS
- IT MUST BE LOVE
- CHUCK E’S IN LOVE
- YOUNG BLOOD
- ALTAR BOY
- LAP DOG
- LOVE IS GOING TO BRING US BACK ALIVE
- THE LAST CHANCE TEXACO
- PHOENIX IN YOUR HEART (Rickie at the piano – NEW MUSIC)
- LIVING IT UP (Rickie at the piano)
- INFINITY (Rickie at the piano)
- WE BELONG TOGETHER (Rickie at the piano)
- CRY ME A RIVER (Julie London Cover)
- EASY MONEY
Rickie Lee Jones is currently out touring the U.S. with a handful of dates in March, April and May. Check local listings or her website (here) for a show near you.
Show date: 03.08.2024
