By: Jen Paulson
 Jessy Greene |
Members: Jessy Greene - Vocals, violin, guitar |
I don't think that I've ever heard a good thing about St. Cloud's Red Carpet Nightclub. But in the past couple of weeks bands like Manplanet, and 12 Rods have played there, not to mention that the opening act for my first visit there was Iffy. If this place is supporting our local music scene, then count me in. And hey, who doesn't want to feel like it's spring break every weekend? Just watch out when people start flooding up from the downstairs bar.
It's hard to go to a show featuring Jessy Greene and not mention her looks. But in so many ways, musically and physically, the woman is a goddess. I've seen her play with Viovoom once before, and on another occasion when she was accompanying Wilco at the Orpheum last July. So with the release of her album, "Blue Sky," it's nice to see her come into her own and become something more than the mythical figure that I made her into after she played with some of my favorite bands.
The violin alone is a mesmerizing instrument and Greene plays it with admirable beauty and finesse. Her vocals are unique and strongly delicate while utilizing her full seductive powers. And just when you think you get it, she plays the guitar on some of the tracks too. When she is supported by Viovoom, the four musicians give the impression of being a tight-knit group who truly care for each other and the music they're playing. Viovoom consists of some of Minneapolis' best, with Erik Kassel on guitar, and Margaret Hegg on bass and cello, both of them nailing great backup vocals, plus Sean Hoffman supplying the drumbeat to your soul while controlling the "whooshes and beeps" (as Steve Marsh called it in his December City Pages article) via computer.
As a whole they made a good impression on St. Cloud, with album and set highlights such as the title track, "Blue Sky," along with "Grand Conspiracy" and "The Divine." I love these songs too, but "Blue Sky" has a wanderlust-inciting effect on me, in the way that it makes me want to throw some clothes and belongings into the car and just start driving and maybe never come back. I was a little disappointed that she didn't play "Laughing," which has been one of my personal favorites since I heard it performed live on Cities 97's Minnesota Music a few weeks ago. Whenever I hear it, I tend to get "Run to Me" by the Bee Gees stuck in my head. (Hey, I think that's complimentary). But to compensate, Greene and Viovoom did perform "The Divine," a hypnotic song that mix-tape junkies like myself must use on some sort-of wooing/seduction cassette.
A few of the songs that Greene and Viovoom played that night aren't on the album, including an older number called "Crush" that they have been pulling out at their latest shows. "Crush" gives all an opportunity to rock out, and Greene the chance to show her guitar skills, shake her fabulous coif about and for Kassel to play a killer, switched-on solo, along with "All I Want," a song that has been a secret anthem for me even before the chords entered my mindset, complete with the lyrics, "When I know what I want, I'll let you know."
I'm looking forward to seeing these guys play again. But hopefully in town next time. Maybe I should have driven a little slower on the way home. Was it worth the speeding ticket? You bet it was.
(Jessy Greene and Viovoom play the Dinkytowner Café on Sunday, May 4th with Robert Skoro. Does anyone else think that he slightly resembles a young, thin Randy Newman? Maybe it's just me…)
Location Info:
Red Carpet
Artist Info: Jessy Greene
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