Jenny Lewis and The Watson Twins Roll In Brooklyn

With A Goblet On the Piano / photo by Adela Loconte

The hallowed Art Deco lobby of the Kings Theatre in the heart of Brooklyn was buzzing, as the overflowing crowd of Jenny Lewis fans anticipated witnessing a musical milestone as they made their way into the concert hall. For this performance, there was a general admission pit, which helped make the historic palace-like venue that much more intimate.

The Watson Twins / photo by Adela Loconte

The Watson Twins ambled out onto the  stage, telling the house that they “drove 14 hours to get to the Kings Theatre.” Chandra and Leigh opened  their 10-song set with “Rolling Thunder” and “Playing Hearts,” which Chandra said is about “the card game of love,” from their new album, Duo. They followed with the title track from their first album, Southern Manners, with their pitch-perfect vocal harmonies smoothly blending with guitar and mouth harp riffs.

Sublimely Sequined / photo by Adela Loconte

Jenny Lewis, resplendent in her sparkling sequined dress, took the stage with “867-5309 / Jenny,” the Tommy Tutone classic, in the background. She began her 20-song, hour-and-a-half set on piano with the anthem-like “Heads Are Gonna Roll,” followed by “Wasted Youth” and “Head Under Water” from her newest album, On The Line.

Carried Off Stage By the Rabbit /photo by Adela Loconte

After the third song, she greeted the crowd with a cheery “Hello, Brooklyn!,” said that she had taken some time to clear her head and then launched into “The Voyager,” “Do Si Do” and “She’s Not Me.” Then, a ringing sound wafted from the stage; Lewis sat down on a platform on the stage, picked up an old school rotary phone, cord and all. Her conversation turned out to be with The Watson Twins, who she then brought out  for “Rise Up With Fists!” and “Melt Your Heart,” to the delight of concert goers. With giant balloons cascading out to the crowded house, other highlights included a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Standing in the Doorway” and “Silver Lining,” and “I Never,” a nod to Lewis’s days with the Rilo Kiley band. The extraordinary night of music came to a dramatic close with “Rabbit Hole,” with Jenny Lewis being carried off the stage by a rabbit-costumed member of her touring entourage.