Photos by Ella Gibson
After an hour-long bus ride down Santa Monica Boulevard, in a brown leather jacket and chunky Dr. Martens, I found myself at a cemetery (literally). “Hollywood Forever: Funeral Home. Cemetery. Cremation.” Lining up next to a row of tombstones was definitely not how I envisioned my Wednesday night to begin, but undoubtedly made for a once in a lifetime experience. As I made my way through the burly brass gates, The Masonic Lodge stood before me, a historic concert hall that seats around 150 people. The outside of the building was dressed in intertwined vines, gray bricks, a terracotta roof, and intricate carvings, more reminiscent of a European cathedral than your traditional concert club. It’s safe to say that this was one of the most unusual, yet unforgettable concerts I’ve ever had the pleasure of attending.
There is no one way to describe the crowd at Hollywood Forever Wednesday night. To my surprise, me, an eight year old girl, and Ella (my plus one/photographer) seemed to be the only attendees under 20. The rest of the diverse audience, a mix of older women, work-aged men, recent college grads with stoles still on, and young adults with drinks in their hands, were all equally enlivened to see the much anticipated Jade Bird.
I must admit, I was a little spooked as I found my place in the venue, red lights flooding the stage and fog beginning to trickle in. The thought of celebrities such as Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, and Johnny Ramone buried right outside circled my mind. That is, until the night’s opener, John-Robert emerged from the back of the theater and found his position center stage, all my worries fading to dust.
In March of this year, Jade Bird announced her Open Up the Songbook tour and that she would be selecting a different local artist to open each performance. Los Angeles was lucky enough to see the effortless and mesmeric John-Robert. The folk-rock singer-songwriter presented an acapella eerie opening with a cover of “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone. Audible gasps and “wows” could be heard as his upper register commanded the audience. As soon as the final “and I’m feeling good” rang through the air, his acoustic-electric Fender came to life. Each chord was strummed with intense passion, each pluck with precision and total control. John-Roberts’ utterly clean descending riffs and strong belt filled the room in every song. He was clearly born to perform as proven by the roaring applause, begs for more, and whispers of acclaim as John-Robert exited the hall.
The eagerness of the eclectic crowd could be heard as Jade Bird made her way through the hall and under the magenta lights. As soon as I saw the pegasus surrounded by stars and clouds at the cuff of her jeans, I knew that this night would be filled with vibrancy and character. The 24-year old British artist is typically known for high energy folk-rock and rustic Americana styled songs, so at first, I was surprised to see her stand bandless with just a guitar in hand. As soon as she sang the first note to “Ruins”, it was evident that her presence could carry the entire venue and that indeed, no band was necessary. Her powerful rasp and slight drawl echoed throughout the concert hall as she shredded her Taylor guitar with equal angst and joy.
Bird appealed to the entire audience both in music and in banter. Warm hollers and chuckles responded to her various personal statements, jokes, and acknowledgement of the venue, giving life to the unusual setting. She even teased about bringing out the cemetery’s demons and expelling them through song. Bird’s personable transitions and vulnerability left the audience in just as much awe of the artist as the art itself. This love didn’t stop on the floor. Bird demonstrated just as much appreciation for her fans as they did for her, sincerely proclaiming “thank you so much” after every tune of the set.
Standout songs such as “Uh Huh,” “Lottery,” her duet with Kenneth Pattengale, and a twangy cover of “Edge of Seventeen” by Stevie Nicks were celebrated with generous applause. Her voice impressively emulated her released recordings with a few fitting twists to keep loyal fans on their toes. While she riffed to perfection and used all octaves of her range, it wasn’t just the vocals that were so captivating about Bird’s set, it was her physical performance as well. Her entire body was energized as she picked at steel strings and swayed along to the audience’s melodic singalong. My personal favorite, “I Get No Joy” was a mix of fast patter, belted lyrics, and collective shouts.
Like any concert, Bird quickly ran off stage after her final song but returned after a prompt five seconds for an encore as she enthusiastically sang “What Am I Here For.” The hall erupted into cheers, whistles, and claps as Bird surveyed the room one final time with a gratifying smile and final “thank you so much.”
As I descended the metal staircase into the dark night, I was brought back to the Hollywood Forever cemetery and back to the realities of being a college student in her last few weeks of the year. Surely, my night at the Masonic Lodge was an exceptional escape filled with pure joy and a diverse audience all alike in one way: their newly formed and noteworthy memories with Jade Bird.
