Concert Review
Jewel shines with simplicity

Jewel performs for sold-out crowd.

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When folk-pop singer Jewel released her latest collection of songs, "0304," last year, the merits of the music were, at least initially, eclipsed by the buzz that surrounded the singer's "new" look — one that was overtly sexy and stylized.

Some shuddered to think that the ethereal and intellectual Jewel stooped to the lowest common denominator of contemporary pop music with her tight designer clothes and glossy lips.

As if to put an end to any lingering questions of her credibility as an artist, Jewel returns to her roots on her current tour, which brought her to Chateau Ste. Michelle Sunday night.

Jewel played solo-acoustic for a sold-out, sun-drenched crowd at the first of the summer concerts at the Woodinville winery. It was a stripped down, raw and breezy performance with no flashy costumes, no dazzling light displays — just Jewel.

The singer-songwriter-cum-poet-actress (and renowned yodeler) opened her 90-minute piece with the poignant, though relatively obscure, "Near You Always," from her debut release, "Pieces of You." The song set the mood and pace of the singer's set. Lesser-known and new cuts occupied the first half and her most popular songs (such as "Who Will Save Your Soul") were the foundation of Act 2.

Armed with a pair of guitars, Jewel, sporting a golden tan and stick-straight super-blond locks, was dressed appropriately for the balmy conditions with a mini-sun dress over blue jeans. The show spotlighted the singer's best asset — her voice, baby-doll breathy and bold and bluesy by turns. Though she was a bit raspy on the high notes in the beginning, the capacity-crowd didn't mind; they lapped up her music with the same fervor as they did her frequent in-between-song banter and playful barbs.

Case in point: A few lines into "Life Uncommon," Jewel stopped to mildly chastise those who were chatting during the performance, and the audience quickly got the hint.

With Jewel, each song is a neatly wrapped short story about issues of the heart that are often messy and complicated.

Particularly powerful was an achingly beautiful "Foolish Games," and a fine take on one of her biggest hits, "You Were Meant For Me." Concert-goers warmly embraced the pathos of "Hands," the grit of "Life Uncommon" and a fluid, mixed-up arrangement of "Down So Long," all from "Spirted." They were dancing in their seats and on the grass when Jewel launched the catchy "Intuition," a satirical take on image and commercialism.

While Jewel's catalog of music is densely lyrical and poetic, it can be a bit repetitive, so it was refreshing that she broke up the monotony with conversations and ramblings, such as a bit about her shyness when doing preconcert meet-and-greets.
 
A pair of rising singer-songwriters opened the show. First off was folksy indie artist Anne Heaton, accompanied only by a keyboard and a soaring, rich voice. Though her set was short, clocking in under 20 minutes, Heaton is a natural performer whose songs, like Jewel's, encapsulate various slice-of-life moments. Charismatic singer Joe Firstman followed, turning out sensual and engaging music with a tenderness reminiscent of Jeff Buckley.

Tina Potterf: 206-464-8214 or tpotterf@seattletimes.com