Zooey Deschanel was charming, engaging – if more than a bit on the low-key, relaxed side – and delivered an indie-country vocal performance with the folk-sincerity of Joni Mitchell and the vocal strength and twang of Linda Ronstadt. The She & Him show was gimmick-free, with the overall performance being stronger because of what each member of the group had to offer.

They played first as a 6-piece – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, drums, lead vocals and backing vocals – with Deschanel hitting center stage to a sea of catcalls. “We went shopping here today and we are wearing peach dresses just for you guys since we are in Georgia,” Deschanel explained, as she and the other two female band members – with flowers in their hair – giggled. Deschanel played “Sentimental Heart” as her first piano endeavor of the night, which came across live exactly the same as it does on the album.

The band left the stage and M. Ward and Deschanel played several, stripped down, poppy duets that were well-executed and well-received. M. Ward kicked off the duet round of the set with a solo acoustic riff. The crowd remained silent and attentive until Deschanel sang the line, “You really got a hold on me,” which prompted a previously silent genius in the crowd to retort, “I’ll hold you both!”  The sentiment seemed to tickle Deschanel, prompting her to get the giggles and laugh intermittently through several lines of the song. She tinkered on the piano – singing very theatrically and playing a round-about version of the popular duet “Heart and Soul” – then launched into a new song that I am assuming is currently unrecorded.

The band returned to the stage – keeping the show interesting – with a cover of Joni Mitchell’s “You Turn Me On I’m A Radio,” followed by a very retro-country song that was written and performed by the sincere and shy backing-vocalist Becki Stark – who ended her solo performance with a curtsey.  

Deschanel – who primarily performed with her hands to her side, in a somewhat shy manner – got the giggles several times during the show, which came across as very endearing. Unlike most artists, Deschanel’s speaking voice and her singing voice are similar in the same quirky, child-like manner. After a piano duet with M. Ward, She & Him took a bow and left the band on stage to finish the last song.  

The encore – including a cover of “Bring It On Home,” a rendition of M. Ward’s “Magic Trick” and a free-for-all including the vocalists from the opening band Freakwater – was rowdy and well-accepted. The sold-out crowd – who knew the words to every song – did not thin out until the entire set was over. As the lights came on and a satisfied audience headed for the doors, I overheard a fan chuckle and say, “She made Cat Power her bitch.” I have to agree.

Photos by Claire Ashton