D.C.-based piano-rock trio Jukebox the Ghost made a great first impression as delightfully theatrical performers in the vein of Queen and Ben Folds this night at Bottom of the Hill. It was the last stop on this first national tour to support their debut full-length, Let Live and Let Ghosts, and they’ve clearly evolved into talented showmen. As fellow graduates of my alma mater GW, this definitely is not the band that got the early slot at Spring Fling in the quad.
Having vetted their show with appearances at SXSW among others on the indie gauntlet, JTG were comfortable and confident, showing no shortage of stage presence. During one song, tour mates Say Hi (To Your Mom) invaded the stage in masks and giant balloons, thrashing about with joyful abandon. It’s precisely that joyfulness that is so refreshing about a Jukebox show; they want you to have fun, damnit, and fun abounded. Offering more than simply a good time, JTG match their boundless enthusiasm with impressive musical talent. Ben Thornewill’s classical piano training infuses the songs with a rollicking, cabaret feel. As they gleefully shift between songs about love and the apocalypse, their ebullient sound is infectious, prompting the crowd to clap and sing along with abandon. As Tommy Siegel sings on “A Matter of Time”—this is the real thing.
--Jenna Glass [November 10, 2008]
