Jewel and Rob Thomas sang SDMHA

petep9000 · #1 06-02-2006, 09:08 AM

I was at this morning's taping of 'Good Morning America' and saw Rob Thomas and Jewel as part of their concert summer series. The taping was held indoors unfortunately, since the weather was sort of drippy outside. There were 3 songs played, one by Jewel solo (from her new album), one by Rob Thomas solo (I think it was called 'Streetside Serenede?) and then they both performed 'Stop Draggin' My Heart Around' together. It was a suprise! I wonder if they are going to play that song live when they go on tour this summer. It was cool to be at a taping too, I've never been anywhere near a TV production before so it was interesting. Jewel's voice was very sweet and she played an electric guitar during the song, Rob Thomas handled the Tom Petty part ok. They had three background singers to fill out the sound. I would have preferred Jewel's band to do the backup, instead they used Rob Thomas' band. I watched Jewel's band peform since 6:45 this morning, they were pretty tight and they played a bunch of her hits during the sound check, for example that one that goes 'Who will save your soul', and that other one that goes 'Sweet sorrow is the goal tomorrow'. Her keyboardist plays a Hammond too so she gets extra credit as far as I'm concerned because I love that sound. Jewel wore platform clogs, jeans and a t-shirt. She looked really pretty (though wears alot of makeup) but at the soundcheck she looked like she literally rolled out of bed, she had bed-head and was wearing huge aviator sunglasses and was wearing a velour blue tracksuit. All in all, it was an interesting and unexpected suprise this morning.

skcin · #2 06-02-2006, 09:15 AM

Was it better than when he did it with Joss Stone? I hope so.

Did this air this morning? Or was it taped for a later date?

petep9000 · #3 06-02-2006, 09:30 AM

It was live, and was on this morning. I didn't catch Rob Thomas singing with Joss Stone so I can't compare them.

Livia · #4 06-02-2006, 09:56 AM

I was just about to post this: Yes, it appears they will be doing SDMHA on tour. Let's hope Jewel eventually learns the lyrics! LOL

Jewel, Thomas pop sets make for melodic evening
BY MELISSA RUGGIERI
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Friday, June 2, 2006

PORTSMOUTH Rob Thomas, the unassuming frontman of Matchbox Twenty, and Jewel, the cooing folk-pop princess, have more in common than you might think.

Both share a similar demographic -- soccer moms. Both have penned notepads full of songs that wallow in heartbreak and sadness. And both have a penchant for writing songs that sound so much the same, you're pretty sure you heard them already when they're really being played for the first time that night.

Jewel, who hasn't toured extensively with a band in a couple of years, began her 70-minute set Wednesday as the sun inched down behind the lovely, intimate nTelos Pavilion.

Looking skinny in straight jeans, Jewel centered herself in front of an enchanted-forest backdrop as candles flickered around the stage, setting the mood for a smooth "Foolish Games."

Her angelic voice is better suited to ballads -- even if hers tend to blend into one muted watercolor painting. But we'll take bland over the shrill yelling that marred "Satellite," an otherwise catchy, guitar-driven selection from her new album, "Goodbye Alice in Wonderland."

Oddly, Jewel didn't talk much about her current work and performed only a couple of tracks from the disc. Instead, she dug into lesser-known cuts from albums past, including "Love Me, Just Leave Me Alone," which began with her speak-singing over a slide guitar, and the rootsy "Everybody Needs Someone Sometime," which would have made a dandy duet with Sheryl Crow.

The hits weren't neglected, either. She and her five-piece band imbued "Hands" with a new rock edge that only improved its dirge-like qualities. And the wistful "You Were Meant for Me" was played solo acoustic, as it should be.

Her first multi-format hit from 1996, "Who Will Save Your Soul," expanded into a seductive arrangement with some scatting, some saxophone, some pretty vocals and some attempts to reach a higher range that sounded more like a chatty porpoise.

Despite Jewel's occasional shrieking, the crowd of about 4,000 cheered her appreciatively, but clearly this was Thomas' spotlight. He got the glitzy light show, the seven-piece band and the five-panel LED screen reflecting multicolored squares of light and shapes.

Thomas isn't a dynamic stage presence, but he isn't expected to be. His boyish look -- ripped jeans and a shabby-cool black T-shirt -- complemented his persona as a serious songwriter.

And, by reinventing several of Matchbox Twenty's toothless pop-rockers into stylistic ballads, Thomas proved his commitment to artistry with an unplugged approach.

He rephrased "Bent" into an acoustic guitar tearjerker, played electric piano for an alt-country take on "3 a.m." and slowed "If You're Gone" to accentuate its melancholy lyrics.

But, since this tour is about his million-plus-selling solo album, "Something to Be," those already-ubiquitous radio hits weren't forgotten.

The crunchy "This Is How a Heart Breaks" opened his nearly two-hour set, while the power ballad "Ever the Same" ignited some crowd swaying, buoyed by his tender vocals.

Midway through Thomas' set, Jewel returned for a meaty duet of the Tom Petty/Stevie Nicks gem "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around."

Thomas' crackerjack band nailed the instrumentation, but watching Jewel stand there with a sheet of paper, reading the lyrics from one of classic rock's biggest songs -- one that every singer should know -- was, or at least should have been, an embarrassment to her.

Interestingly, the highlight of Thomas' set was another cover David Bowie's "Let's Dance," stuffed with crisp percussion and a fat groove from bassist Al Carty. Thomas even managed to achieve Bowie-ness on the "tremble like a flower" line, his voice deep, echoing and appropriately raspy.

At only 34, Thomas has achieved significant success with his band and solo career. Maybe he's just smart enough to know which role models to follow.

Contact staff writer Melissa Ruggieri at [email protected] or (804) 649-6120.

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cliffdweller · #5 06-02-2006, 10:25 AM

^^^^^ oh brother

.

here's a tip for Jewell: Don't sing a song onstage that you don't know the lyrics to--it makes you look like an idiot. "Holding a piece of paper" while singing the lyrics? Good grief

.

skcin · #6 06-02-2006, 10:35 AM

Seriously? I don't think I've ever seen an artist read lyrics off a piece of paper.

Wow. That's pretty bad.

ragandbone · #7 06-02-2006, 11:29 AM

Maybe she was sight-singing, and the paper had musical notes?

No?

Didn't think so.

bikerchic · #8 06-02-2006, 11:57 AM

I love Jewels new song "Good Day". Her voice is beautiful. She was on the Y & R the other day and sang that song while they showed Nick and Sharon, it was very sad and I got alittle teary

JazmenFlowers · #9 06-02-2006, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skcin

Seriously? I don't think I've ever seen an artist read lyrics off a piece of paper.

Wow. That's pretty bad.

seriously. I mean, hello, ever heard of a monitor?

besides all that, it's not like she has to sing Shakespeare...it's not a hard song to get

Livia · #10 06-02-2006, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikerchic

I love Jewels new song "Good Day". Her voice is beautiful. She was on the Y & R the other day and sang that song while they showed Nick and Sharon, it was very sad and I got alittle teary

I saw that!

BTW - how bad do you want Brad and Sharon to "do it?"

I miss Nick and Phyllis' hotness....

Livia · #11 06-02-2006, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JazmenFlowers

seriously. I mean, hello, ever heard of a monitor?

besides all that, it's not like she has to sing Shakespeare...it's not a hard song to get

Any self-respecting female singer/songwriter should not only have at least two copies of Bella Donna (vinyl, CD and/or cassette), but they should also have it memorized, front to back and back to front.

JazmenFlowers · #12 06-02-2006, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livia

Any self-respecting female singer/songwriter should not only have at least two copies of Bella Donna (vinyl, CD and/or cassette), but they should also have it memorized, front to back and back to front.

amen sistah.

and I picked up on your front to back and back to front.

bikerchic · #13 06-02-2006, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JazmenFlowers

amen sistah.

and I picked up on your front to back and back to front.

actually its, back to front and front to back

JazmenFlowers · #14 06-02-2006, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikerchic

actually its, back to front and front to back

oh yes. exactly. thank you.

of course, when quoting Stevie, it's never how you think you remember it, is it?

BTFLCHLD · #15 06-02-2006, 12:34 PM

I stayed home from work today to fight a summer cold (plans tomorrow I refuse to cancel) so I was able to catch SDMHA. While I do enjoy some of their solo work, this performance sucked. Had I never heard SDMHA before I would still say it sucked. In fact, after the performance, Jewel admittedly let slip with the mic on, in a loud whisper to Rob she stated either "that was embarrassing" or "I was embarrased." They could and should have selected a different duet. Oh well, live and learn Jewel!

Wait, I recorded it. She said, "I always get embarrassed when I get..."
Maybe she doesn't like the audience adoration or lack of.

EDIT: There was no paper w/ the televised performance. She must have had the sheet during rehearsal.