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The Steady Pull of JonathaAug 20 '01 (Updated Aug 24 '01) Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line If she comes within a 120 mile radius of where you live, make a point of seeing her show.
I'm happy to say that whenever Jonatha Brooke goes on tour I can expect to see her performing in my town, as well as in the city 100 miles up the freeway. And believe me, if there's any way I can make the drive up, even on a weekday, I will do it. Heck, once I even tried to see her perform in a town located on the other side of the mountains. Unfortunately a sudden snow storm decided to blanket the pass that day, creating an adventure that is a story unto itself. Obviously I have a "thing" for Brooke and I will not deny that I find her attractive. But if her music was sub-standard then I know my interest would have waned long ago. Good looks can only get you so far. I first heard Brooke's music when she was part of the folk duo, The Story. A friend of mine had just purchased "The Angel in the House" but it wasn't until I picked up my own copy about a year later that I got hooked. That album is still one of my favorites because of its darker themes dealing with family strife, religion and personal growth issues. Shortly after that purchase I picked up Brooke's excellent solo effort "Plumb," which revealed exactly who was the Simon and who was the Garfunkel when it came to The Story. With a stronger pop orientation "Plumb" added to Brooke's body of intelligent and resonant songwriting. And, as most musicians are wont to do with the release of a new album, Brooke went on a promotional tour and eventually came to my humble town. Sadly, the less-than-ideal job I was working at the time only allowed me to hear her perform about three songs. Though I can't say I quit my job because of that disappointment, it doesn't make me appreciate my employment there any more than I do. Now that I'm working a job with normal hours, I've had the chance to see Brooke perform about five times over the last five years. Sometimes it was just her and her guitar, other times she brought along a full band. Accompanied or not I have never been disappointed with her concerts. She has an obvious devotion to her fans, acknowledging they are her bread and butter (especially now that she is an independent artist). As a result she has a welcoming and familiar stage presence, embodied by her inevitable query "So do you have any questions?" I've never heard her respond to any personal questions but the fact she asks always makes me chuckle and feel at ease. Like most great musicians Brooke is a pleasure to hear live. She has stated herself that she performs best in such settings and her engaging presence is an obvious indication of this. Don't expect to hear the songs sound exactly like the CD tracks, but don't expect any meandering riffs like the Dave Matthews Band either. Essentially Brooke knows the difference between a live performance and one recorded/produced and makes the most of it for the listeners through vocal and guitar stylings. The following are some memorable moments from various concerts: Wearing a pair of pleather pants, she counts off the opening number by slapping her hip with her hand. Because of the material the slap resonates quite loudly across the auditorium. The stranger sitting next to me chuckles at the same time. At the end of a song Brooke is compelled to raise her leg up so that it's slightly past a perpendicular position to her body. I then remember, "oh yeah, she was a dance major in college." While in the middle of an in-store performance a handsome but slightly strange man tries to initiate a personal exchange with her. He reminds her they talked after a concert somewhere, to which she responds, "I remember but I'm kind of busy right now." In response he meekly places a scrap of paper on the edge of the platform and walks away. She picks it up, reads it and slips it into her pocket without saying a word. A few nervous giggles erupt before she starts her next song and I turn to my neighbor and say, "What the heck was that?" Despite a devoted following Brooke is only now getting more attention. Recent appearances on Letterman and the Late Show with Conan O'Brien are bound to increase her visibility. Though this is exciting I usually consider increased visibility a double-edged sword. Part of the reason I like her is because she's a grass roots kind of artist and though I try to make as many new fans as possible part of me would hate to see her get too big. Yet as talented as she is I know she will never reach the platinum level, simply because of the nature of the music industry. In short, Brooke is just too intelligent and talented and therefore she will always have a fan base typified by quality, not quantity. I doubt she would complain much about such a career, especially since it indicates her inherent quality as an entertainer and artist.  |
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