The MCB Review: She & Him at Royal Oak Music Theatre

Zooey Deschanel of She and Him.

I ♥ She & Him. That’s what the concert t-shirt reads that I bought, and I usually don’t buy concert t-shirts. However, there was something so real and pure about this duo that I could not resist the t-shirt, or declaring my love. She & Him consists of Hollywood free-spirit starlet Zooey Deschanel and indie-rock superstar M. Ward. Both are equally talented, she not only being an actress but also a talented musician and singer-songwriter and him a guitar-playing singer and production genius.  M graciously allows Zooey to glow in the spotlight and that she does.

The pair, along with the Chaplin sisters and their traveling band meandered into sold-out Royal Oak Music Theatre on a lazy Sunday night. The crowd was fairly young and mellow, but the show was not. Performing with old soul and energy She & Him killed on songs like “Thieves” and the crowd sing-a-long “In the Sun.” Deschanel’s voice was soothing and M’s almost sultry on “Brand New Shoes” while “You Really Got a Hold on Me” was lovely and fun.

Playing a strong repertoire from both their albums, Volumes 1 and 2, She & Him definitely certified their place in the music scene. Their musical combination is divine – part indie, a portion folk, a quarter bit vintage soul, and a smidge of country with small bits of everything else thrown in. This girl and boy make my heart swoon.  They might make yours too…

She and Him are touring throughout the summer. They play Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, TN tonight. For more dates, check out www.sheandhim.com. Both of their albums are available at Amazon.com.

(Photo and review courtesy of Christian Spencer & Nicole Cummings. If you want to check out more photos from this show and others, check out www.flickr.com/photos/christian_nicole).