Jesse Cook Santa Barbara Concert reviews
ray lamontagne @ civic center
I have mixed feelings about this show. I absolutely LOVE Jesse Cook's music, but I felt that it didn't suit the venue. For such a mellow sound, I feel like he should have played in a more intimate setting, possibly with standing room so hippies could sway as desired. I familiarized myself with his new album "Supernova" before the show and really enjoyed those songs. Only when Jesse played his staples like "Jolene" or "Trouble" did people really get into the music. But for the fans who only know those two songs, the show was probably somewhat boring. I know I would have loved to stand up and dance around to the music, but not one audience member was on their feet. Unfortunately, I was among hundreds of people that looked like they were falling asleep in their chairs. In fact, looking around, it didn't seem as though anyone was really enjoying themselves. He's an amazing artist, and his band was absolutely exceptional. If I was the only person in the room, I would have been dancing around, singing along, and experiencing the music to the fullest. I expect Jesse will encounter this indifference from the crowd throughout the tour, and I think that's a shame. It is certainly no testament to Jesse's undeniable talent!