The Jayhawks at The Forum

The Jayhawks

Mark Olson & Ingunn Ringvold

The Forum, 5 August 2011

Of all the bands that emerged from the so-called alternative country scene The Jayhawks always seemed to be the most under-appreciated. It's particularly crazy given that during the 90s they released two albums that equal, and maybe even better, anything Uncle Tupelo ever made. But in the mid-90s one of the band's main songwriters, Mark Olson, decided to leave the band and although they carried on making great records those special harmony vocals between Olson and fellow frontman Gary Louris were sorely missed. I saw Olson-less Jayhawks twice before they split and they were always fantastic but when Louris teamed up with Olson for a duo album there was no doubt that these two guys were meant to sing together. I guess it was only a matter of time before the whole classic line-up of the band got back together, lucky for us, and the gig tonight to finally see and hear the chemistry between these five guys and gal really was worth the wait.

Rather unusually though the support act is Olson performing his solo songs with wife and accompanist Ingunn Ringvold. Mark's solo shows are always organic and beautifully ramshackle affairs, something which is a little lost in a big venue like the Forum and in his quieter songs the audience chatter is sadly audible. I did wonder if some people even realised that he was also one of the leaders of the main act. Still it's always good to hear his much underrated solo work (and there's a particularly fine version of Linda Lee tonight) even if it didn't seem to be appreciated by some of the drinking masses. I'm glad I've seen him in smaller venues though.

While the reaction to Mark Olson's solo act might have been disappointingly muted, the audience were definitely hugely excited when he returned with The Jayhawks. Looking around the crowd appeared to be made up of older people who probably saw this line-up of the band first time around, back to celebrate their long-awaited reunion and they certainly gave them a warm welcome back.

In fact this in many ways was the most confident and at ease I had seen them, back with Mark Olson and keyboardist Karen Grotberg in the fold, they appeared happy and comfortable playing together. Although all the way from Minnesota, it was like a homecoming with the audience heralding their return and the band happily back on familiar territory. Kicking things off with a tight, warm version of Wichita, it felt like they had never been away and the show was a celebration of their two classic 90s albums Hollywood Town Hall and Tomorrow The Green Grass. In fact the only moment where they wandered from the post-Olson years was to allow talented drummer Tim O'Reagan to sing a number (he only began to contribute songs to the band after Olson left), the Rainy Day Music track Tampa To Tulsa, which was a pleasant and unexpected surprise.

More than anything the night really was about that special chemistry between the five members (Olson rather nicely dedicates Red's Song to Karen, explaining she inspired the title) but even more specifically between Olson and fellow songwriter and frontman Gary Louris. I'm sure I've talked about this before, but the contrast between the two men is striking and interesting: Louris looking, even moreso these days, like the cool, laid back Californian rock star (despite being from Minnesota) and Olson looking like the lovably, disheveled folk singer. And the contrast extends to the music too, Louris providing the professional sheen, with well-crafted songs and solos, while Olson is rootsy and raw and seems like he's just about keeping it all together. I'd compare it to the musical relationship between Stephen Stills and Neil Young but Louris isn't all sheen, there's a little of Young's raw approach in his rockier moments too. But this contrast is part of what makes the band so special, they have that amazingly endearing raw country folkiness and the rock and roll shine when they need it. And of course there's the harmonies too, that other-worldly perfect sound that comes when Olson and Louris sing together. It's one of the main reasons that makes hearing these songs live so exciting. I had experienced it when they played their acoustic duo shows together a couple of years back but to then hear it with their exceptional band joining in makes it a different and a whole other kind of special.

There were so many great moments hearing those unique Olson/Louris harmonies from Nevada, California (dedicated to all the fans who had traveled from Europe to see the show) and the sublime Two Angels to Real Light, Miss Williams' Guitar, Take Me With You and, of course, their best known songs Blue and Waiting For The Sun, which drew huge cheers. We were also treated to a number of new songs from their forthcoming album Mockingbird Time (out in September), all of which sounded great, particularly new single She Walks In So Many Ways, which sounds like a lost Byrds classic, all jangly guitars and gorgeous harmonies. There was also a really bizarre but fun punky number which appeared to have the shouty chorus "Jayhawks jam!". I have no idea if this is on the new album or made up on the spot but it was brilliantly weird to see Mark Olson shedding his Dylan folkiness for a moment and getting a little punk rock. There was also a funny moment when Olson had a problem with his guitar and had to sing part of a song without it and ended up dancing like a dad at a wedding.

The band sounded so good and the crowd was so enthusiastic for them that they ended up doing two encores, and the second was a truly genuine one too, with the house lights gone up and music turned back on before the cheers quickly drew them back for a new song, Hide Your Colours, and an old favourite, the gorgeous Sister Cry. It was a great way to end the show, one which was both beautifully nostalgic as well as exciting for all the new songs they have to offer. Hopefully after this triumphant return they will be around for a long time to come.