Jenny Lewis at the Ryman, 3/13/2024
Jenny Lewis took the stage March 13 at the Ryman for the homecoming stop on her Joy'All Ball Tour wearing a black leather catsuit against a bold red backdrop. The scene was reminiscent of Elvis’ famous 1968 comeback special. But unlike Presley, who was coming back from a seven-year break from live performance, Lewis never left.
Lewis has been on tour for her fifth solo album Joy’All since the summer. Some of us were lucky enough to catch her at Eastside Bowl in June for the release party, or at Bonnaroo the day after. And some of us were even luckier to have caught her at the Ryman in 2016 during the 10-year anniversary show for her beloved Watson Twins collaboration Rabbit Fur Coat.
Logan Ledger at the Ryman, 3/13/2024
Nashville singer-songwriter Logan Ledger kicked the show off. As he noted on Instagram, it was his first time playing the Ryman. Sporting a Marty Robbins mustache and an all-white getup, Ledger played a 30-minute set with a six-person band that included drummer Jamie Dick, whom you’ll remember from early 2010s Nashville band Tommy and the Whale, as well as a second bassist playing tic-tac style along with the guitar. Appropriately enough, considering his recent album is called Golden State, the sound was Bakersfield by way of Laurel Canyon.
Hayden Pedigo at the Ryman, 3/13/2024
“Thanks to Jenny Lewis for changing my life,” said the next performer Hayden Pedigo as he explained his journey overcoming stage fright and Lewis taking a chance on him. A solo instrumental guitarist from Amarillo, Texas, Pedigo made up for his lack of vocals with banter. At the top of his 40-minute set, Pedigo explained that his songs are long and have lots of pauses, so to avoid confusion, he’d say “It’s over” when it was time to clap. He wrapped up with a cover of the theme from Brokeback Mountain and a sincere plea to not let stage fright keep you from following your dreams.
Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins at the Ryman, 3/13/2024
After a short break, the lights went down and the curtains opened to the telltale guitar strumming of “The Big Guns.” I was expecting Lewis to begin with Joy’All opener “Psychos” like she did at Eastside Bowl. I was not emotionally or spiritually prepared for the wave of nostalgia that hit me when I realized she was starting the show flanked by The Watson Twins, belting out a song from Rabbit Fur Coat.
“Psychos” came next, and the Watsons stayed to sing along before heading backstage for a while. “Welcome to the Joy'All Ball,” Lewis said as she launched into “Do Si Do” from 2019’s On the Line, followed by “She’s Not Me” from 2014’s The Voyager.
Jenny Lewis at the Ryman, 3/13/2024
Lewis was backed by an all-female band made up of bassist Ryan Madora, guitarist and steel player Nicole Lawrence, keyboardist Jess Nolan and drummer Megan Coleman. The camaraderie between them radiated off the stage, escalating further when Lewis brought Nolan to the front of the stage, where they sang Girls’ “Lust for Life” (not to be confused with the Iggy Pop song of the same name).
Later, after Joy’All standout “Cherry Baby,” Lewis talked about how special it was to make that album with producer Dave Cobb in historic RCA Studio A on Music Row. She also spoke about how, back in 2005, she didn’t think she had what it took to be a solo artist. Starting to cry, she told us how everything turned around when she met The Watson Twins.
“Old enough to vote, but not old enough to drink,” said Lewis, referring to Rabbit Fur Coat, which was released 18 years ago in January. The Watsons returned to the stage for three more songs from that landmark album: “Rise Up With Fists!!,” “You Are What You Love” and “Melt Your Heart.” As the twins made their way back to the wings, Lewis said, “This is going great, I just have to say, to be honest.” Then someone from the crowd shouted “Modelo!” and Lewis held up the can resting on her Wurlitzer side tray and blessed the crowd to uproarious applause.
I was 30 years old when Rabbit Fur Coat came out, and I felt untethered as I watched everyone around me get engaged, get married and start families. I couldn’t even hold a job, and I definitely couldn’t convince my 25-year-old boyfriend that he was old enough to propose. And then came Jenny Lewis with songs about love, heartbreak and not having all of the answers. She became my blueprint for getting out there and being who I am.
Jenny Lewis at the Ryman, 3/13/2024
As the show wound down, the focus shifted, deservedly, to Lewis’ famed pup Bobby Rhubarb, who is the subject of crowd favorite “Puppy and a Truck.” I’ve never seen such a massive group of people give an enthusiastic thumbs-up in unison. Lewis segued into “See Fernando” and we knew we had reached the end of the show because crew members clad in all black came out from backstage and tossed enormous helium balloons emblazoned with Bobby Rhubarb’s face into the crowd. Joy’All, indeed.
After a brief pause, Lewis returned to begin the encore without her band, but with assists from Pedigo and Ledger on “Silver Lining.” The band came back onstage for “Just One of the Guys” and “Love Feel,” and then The Watson Twins joined in on “Acid Tongue,” the final song of the night. Before the curtains closed, the whole ensemble came to the front of the stage to sing us out, taking their final bow as the curtains closed.
The Spin: Jenny Lewis at the Ryman, 3/13/2024
With Logan Ledger and Hayden Pedigo
Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins at the Ryman, 3/13/2024
