She & Him – Live At The Glass House

I’ve been in love with Zooey Deschanel’s voice ever since she sang “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” with Will Ferrell in the movie, Elf. So, a few years later, I was intrigued to learn that the actress (the star of such films as The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,Yes, Man, The Happening and (500) Days of Summer) was one-half of an indie singer-songwriter duo known as She & Him.

Zooey, along with her songwriting partner, the enigmatic M. Ward, started their musical collaboration after meeting on the set of the film, The Go Getter. In 2008, they released their first album, She & Him Volume One. The album received a positive response from critics, and to date it has sold well over 150,000 copies. Deschanel and Ward have been generating an ever-expanding flock of followers ever since.

And it’s no wonder, really. Many actors have attempted to make the transition from successful film career to successful music career. Many have tried; few have succeeded. If Deschanel hasn’t quite yet “succeeded” then she’s well on her way to doing so. She & Him’s second album, Volume Two, was released in March, preceded by a new single, “In the Sun”, and its accompanying music video. The song and the video blew me away, and when She & Him announced a nationwide tour with a full band backing them up, I knew I had to get in on that action. Last week I had the fortuitous opportunity to see them at the intimate, 800-person-capacity Glass House in Pomona and see for myself whether She & Him was a truly talented music act or a celebrity-powered gimmick-band.

Initially I hadn’t been sure what to expect from She & Him’s live act. I own both of the band’s albums, love their fresh (though oddly reminiscent) style, and have listened to them repeatedly. But a well produced album doesn’t always translate into a good live performance. It took about one verse and half a chorus into the band’s first song to realize that Deschanel and M. Ward are the real deal. I’ve been enjoying Deschanel’s movies for years, but after seeing her perform live on stage, I realize now that she’s one of those rare people who was born with more talent in her little toe than most people will ever know. I shouldn’t be surprised, though. She comes from one of those talent-infused showbiz families. Her father is the famous cinematographer, Caleb Deschanel (The Black Stallion, The Right Stuff, The Natural, The Passion of the Christ—yeah, he’s no slouch); her mother is an actress as well (she had a regular role on the cult classic, Twin Peaks), and so is her sister, Emily (who plays the title character on FOX’s hit TV show, Bones). The point is that performing is in the girl’s blood, and she doesn’t disappoint.

She & Him’s songs are pleasant, catchy and musically disciplined, amplified by Deschanel’s radiant charm. She has the kind of presence that makes you a little sad that you don’t actually know her “in real life”. The girl possesses a mesmerizing 1930’s-era voice that would be right at home in some smokey jazz bar down South. When Zooey sings the words hold me in “You Really Got a Hold on Me”, it’s no secret what every guy in the joint is thinking (alas, Zooey’s heart belongs to another: husband Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie, another band I happen to love). The songs bring to mind memories of the girl(s) that got away.

As she’s singing, Zooey is always there, in the moment, doing what she was born to do. She is loving every minute of it, and it shows. In the film, The Happening, there’s a scene at the end where Zooey is standing in front of her house, waiting for her husband, Mark Wahlberg, to come home. She has exciting news and is smiling. Deschanel is a capable actress, but for some reason I never really bought that smile. But when she’s on stage, Zooey is beaming; the smile she wears is one hundred percent authentic. It’s borne of her love of the music, and it’s that love that shines through and spawns an enthralling performance.

But lest you believe this review is nothing more than a slobbering tribute to Zooey alone, I have to say that guitarist, M. Ward, was equally captivating. His very aura oozes cool. His gripping stage presence is only eclipse by his skillful guitar playing. I found myself captivated by Ward’s absorbing riffs and solos, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he wasn’t completely unaware of his own overpowering presence. At times it would almost seem as if he would purposefully position himself at the farthest possible point of the stage, perhaps not wanting to steal away any focus whatsoever from his lead singer.

Well, perhaps I’m just imagining things, but one thing is sure. She & Him is a musical force to be reckoned with. For now they’re playing smaller clubs and theaters, but it’s perfectly within the realm of possibility to expect that they’ll one day soon be playing much larger venues. In fact, I recently learned that they’re slated to play the Hollywood Bowl with fellow male/female duos The Swell Season and The Bird and the Bee. I’d say they’re more than worthy enough to play such an reputable location. I’m not kidding when I say that Deschanel and Ward are musicians and performers of the highest caliber.

She & Him at The Glass House was a musical experience that equalled anything I would expect from acts that demand much higher ticket prices. If you have the chance to see them, are a fan of good folk/indie music, then I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. In the meantime be sure to check out both their albums! This is one band that is definitely going on my list of rare groups that I would consider seeing multiple times. If they’re not on your radar yet, be sure to give them a listen. You’ll be glad you did.

by Stuart Benedict

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Photos by Stuart Benedict 4/15/10 at The Glass House (Pomona, CA)