Pete Yorn + Zee Avi - Showbox at the Market (Seattle; WA, Aug. 19, 2009)

Pete Yorn is one of those artists that people either adore or know only because they heard one of his songs on Dawson’s Creek. I have a few friends who fall in the first camp so I wanted to go and see what the fuss is all about. Like a lot of people, I’m familiar with all his radio hits but I wondered what more Pete had to offer.

Lucky for me I arrived at the Showbox in time to catch the opener Zee Avi, a singer songwriter from Borneo who apparently has a large internet following. I wasn’t familiar with her sound but her Norah Jones-esque voice and Jenny Lewis-like guitar pulled me in. Zee serenaded us with some of her own stuff before doing a great ukulele cover of “I Fought the Law.”
During the band break people funneled into the cracks in the crowd space and ladies jockeyed for position directly in front of Pete’s mic. I was assaulted by at least three designer handbags as groups of friends squeezed by in their effort to get within panty throwing distance.

Pete and the guys came on stage around 10:30, strumming straight into “Black” followed by “Shotgun.” His brand of introspective pop rock really seemed to resonate with the crowd and I could see people singing along to the songs with eyes closed, swaying to the music. Before launching into “Life On A Chain” Pete acknowledged that the song is almost ten years old and from the time of his ultimate popularity. In fact, if you’ve heard a Pete Yorn song most likely it is off Musicforthemorningafter which featured several radio ready, melody driven tunes. His follow ups haven’t produced that kind of ideal pop sing along song or radio play, leaving me to wonder how he got two nights at the Showbox.

Both the crowd and Pete brought the goods on “Murray” which features a fun refrain (Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah), perfect for audience sing alongs. He called “Burrito” the “most misunderstood song in my catalog,” explaining that it in fact isn’t about food but rather early morning sex. Go figure. I never would have guessed with ridiculous lines like “If you want a burrito you can have another bite of mine. Come on over tonight, come on over this morning. Mama says you only fall in love once.” But hey the ladies loved it, smiling knowingly to each other. Pete has definitely perfected the sensitive singer songwriter image that appeals to middle aged women and their daughters – shaggy tussled hair, thrift store shirt partially buttoned, smoldering glances.

I’d like to see Pete Yorn strip down. I don’t mean him personally but his band baggage. The sound he put out just didn’t justify the seven musicians on stage. As my friend pointed out, with three guitars up there you shouldn’t be able to hear yourself think. Pete switched it up from electric to twelve string, but the difference wasn’t noticeable since the lushness that a twelve string can bring was lost in the overlapping strumming. Some of the instruments were almost unnecessary, the mandolin and keyboard for instance, since again their parts were overshadowed and under balanced against the other sounds on stage. However, the tambourine guy was pretty impressive reminding my friend and me of a combination Kristy Yamaguchi Chris Farley. He flailed, swung, twisted, shook, thumped, and sweat all over that tambourine like nobody’s business.

Pete and the band maintained the energy level throughout the nineteen song set and the audience was right there with them. I was unaware that he has a habit of playing covers so I was thrilled when he broke out “Bizarre Love Triangle,” a New Order classic. Otherwise he relied heavily on material from his biggest album, more than I was expecting considering he just released a new record, playing favorites “Strange Condition” and “Closet.” Sorry to say that the old material was the strongest, breaking up the melancholy monotony of songs off Back and Forth his latest release. Besides the upbeat “Last Summer” the others are too similar, seeming to rely on almost identical rhythms and chords. I think the titles say enough – “Don’t Wanna Cry,” “Social Development Dance,” “Thinking of You.” Pete Yorn obviously has a devoted following and I’ll give that he certainly has talent but after seeing him live, I still don’t quite get it. 

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