Jay Clifford's triumphant return

Jay Clifford’s performance at Lincoln Theatre last week wasn’t just a show for a lot of people, it was an event.

The show marked Jay’s first tour with a band since Jump, Little Children dissolved in late 2005.

Of course, Jay’s old friends weren’t far away. Jump bassist Jonathan Gray joined the backing band along with members of the Charleston-based group Slow Runner. But we’llget to them later.

Jay’s tour also celebrates the release of his first solo album, Driving Blind. He played literally every song on the album that night, though about halfway through the set some fans began to get antsy to hear old favorites, shouting requests between songs.

“We’ll get to that,” Jay laughed. “We might even take a request or two.”

“Oh, shit,” muttered Jonny, who hadn’t played many of the older songs live in some time. “I don’t do well on pop quizzes.”

Of course they sidestepped taking requests, but Jay and Jonny did oblige the crowd by playing a trio of songs without the backing band, “No God, No Country,” a song by Rosebud, a side project the two were in, and Jump songs “Where She Lies” and “Cathedrals.”

In a way, playing older songs only showed how much Jay has changed in his songwriting, from a song as old as “Where She Lies” to the new album material, which is much moodier and even symphonic while still retaining the stunning melodies and other qualities that have made fans (like me) stick around for the long haul.

Opening band Slow Runner has its own new album out. Shiv! is a wonderful collection of dreamy pop rock songs that deserves the group and songwriter Michael Flynn far more recognition than they currently receive.

The night as a whole was just one of great songwriters and performers that, for my tastes, doesn’t happen often enough.

(all photos by Kevin Norris)