Jewel shines at Alys Stephens

Michael Crump, Staff Writer
Published On: 11/ 3/2009

Jewel Kilcher’s performance at Alys Stephens Center on UAB campus, Friday evening, Oct. 31 was beyond words.
The show, called “Solo Acoustic,” could not have been more aptly titled. Meiko, a rising singer/songwriter, opened magnificently for Jewel. Although it was a rainy night, the audience filled the many seats of Jemison Concert Hall.
Meiko played a relatively short set compared to Jewel, but every second was a glorious mixture of voice and guitar. Meiko, who was raised in Georgia, released her independent album more than two years ago, which is now reverberating in the music industry.

She came onstage dressed very appropriately for the season and the evening. Her guitar playing was above, but compared to Jewel, it was amazing that she got off a huge sound the way she did. Seating did not affect the sound mechanics, even if one was sitting all the way in the back.

She had a booming voice with a touch of sarcasm and sass when she switched between songs. One crowd pleaser was “Boys with Girlfriends,” along with the story behind the song. She said it was not smart to get involved with a guy with has a jealous girlfriend — even if you and the guy were just best friends.

Meiko’s devilish revenge took the form of a song about the experience, and she played a trick on the egotistical girlfriend by pretending she had an affair with her boyfriend. It was more than enough to say that this bested the other major song in her repertoire.

When Jewel came onstage, it was magical. Jewel has been a recording artist in the industry for more than two decades now. She started off with “Somewhere over the Rainbow” a capella style in her acoustic performance. The song is featured on her new independent release simply titled, “Lullaby.” And when she played her guitars, every note hung in the air as heavy as the rain was falling that night in Birmingham.

Her colorful stories in between songs ranged from the time she was in a bar, sitting on a toilet, watching other ladies dressed in Biker garb telling her about their lives to when the police came to raid the bar for underage drinking. Jewel was about 14 at this time, earning a living with her father after her parents divorced years earlier.

She told the story of “Hands,” off the album “This Way,” and how it was played over the radio dedicated to Sept. 11. The song was actually about her experiences as a shoplifter, not being able to afford a $39 dress and changes she made in her life at that time. It was a very humbling experience that left a few dry eyes.

She also played “Stronger Woman,” which entered the Billboard Hot Country chart at number 20 and peaked at number 13 in the summer 2008.

Jewel ended her night with a crowning of sorts with “Who Will Save Your Soul,” which remains one of her biggest hits off the album “Pieces of Me.” She said the song was about a trip she took from Chicago to Mexico and the people she met along the way.

If one must see Jewel live, one must do it indoors. The last song, an encore to close out the almost two hour show, carried her voice throughout the auditorium. She was definitely the “Jewel of the Night” and carried everyone’s heart into a standing ovation. Meiko, who came out to sing with Jewel during her set, said after the song, “You are the reason we play.”
 

Email: gnostic1@uab.edu