Sep 21, 2016
Jenny Lewis’ Rabbit Fur Coat is a treasured 37-minutes of indie perfection. Celebrating the album's 10th-anniversary with a vinyl release and tour alongside collaborators The Watson Twins, Lewis looks to cement it’s place as her defining work.
Opening the proceedings with “Run Devil Run” by slowly marching down the center aisle of the historic Chicago Theatre, lit only by carried candlelights, Lewis in a sparkling red dress along with the Twins in blue, mirrored the iconic album cover.
Playing through the entire album with reverence rarely seen for an artist’s past work, Lewis gently performed title track's acoustic solo before being joined by openers The Cactus Blossoms for Traveling Wilbury’s cover “Handle With Care." Ending the set by strolling back through the theater as they came to "Happy (Reprise)."
Returning after a brief intermission, now complete in a marijuana leaf emblazoned pant suit, Lewis presented a Voyage through the past, present and future during a sharp best of second set that featured the energetic “See Fernando," The Shirelle's cover of “I Met Him on a Sunday,” an acapella performance with the Watsons, and the rarely played “I Never” from her days with Rilo Kiley.
Ending the 21-song-set with “She’s Not Me” it was clear there are few artists that share the effortless musical talent of a fully realized Jenny Lewis show.
There are still a handful of Rabbit Fur Coat shows in the next week, including stops in DC and the Masonic in San Francisco on September 22nd.