Joni Mitchell played concerts in Los Angeles, CA this weekend for the first time in nearly thirty years and it was an awe-inspiring return to the stage.
When Brandi Carlile pulled off the magic trick of the century by getting Joni Mitchell to do a surprise set at the infamous Newport Folk Festival in 2022, it was one of the most surreal “you just had to be there” moments I could've imagined. To be clear, I was not there, but it gave me the slightest hope that there was now a chance that one day I could be there. I could not make my plans come together to make it to The Gorge in Oregon for Joni's first announced comeback show, but when she planned for two shows at The Hollywood Bowl with the Joni Jam crew, I knew that this had to be my chance. As the lights lowered on Sunday evening for her second of two sold-out shows over the weekend, the backdrop spun around like a carousel to unveil an elaborate stage set up with musicians already in place and revealed Joni Mitchell herself, front and center, in a regal chair with Brandi right beside her. A quick tug on the chain of a lamp on the table next to her and it was as if in that moment her enchanting spell captured us all and took us on a journey most in the crowd never thought we'd experience. It was practically tear-jerking from that instance and the overwhelming sensation never left. For three hours, we were welcomed into Joni's mostly private world of the last thirty years and were gifted the unbelievable experience of getting to hear these special songs in a once in a lifetime setting. Backed by an incredible group of people including Elton John, Meryl Streep, Annie Lennox, Robin Pecknold, Lucius, Celisse, Blake Mills, Jon Batiste, Marcus Mumford, and more, it truly felt like a dream. "Can you believe we just heard Joni Mitchell sing 'Coyote'?" Brandi asked the crowd early in the night proving that her adornment for the music was just as deep as those of us in the seats. As she dug deep through her catalog, the set list was that of a dream and to hear these words and arrangements with such a spectacular group of musicians was almost too much to take in. "Carey" gave people a solid break from the moments of tears and to see Joni take such a prominent lead on these songs was remarkable. The triumphant comeback from massive health issues was always the underlying reason for any cause for concern of just how well she'd be able to perform, but on this occasion it couldn't have been better. “You sounded good last night Joan, but this is incredible" Carlile encouraged at one point and it was clear that everyone in the venue had to constantly remind ourselves that this wasn't a dream, but the greatest reality. Before a quick intermission, Joni unloaded "Both Sides Now" way before anyone was expecting it and left the entire crowd in a puddle of tears. Luckily we were given some time to collect ourselves before things picked up again and the energy of "Big Yellow Taxi" and "Raised on Robbery" both of which rejiggered the night into a sense of pure elation. Of course that didn't last long because "A Case of You" completely wrecked us all and once again had us weeping as overflowing emotions took hold. I also wasn't expecting "California" to destroy me as well, especially as a New Yorker, but the love and affection in her voice melted me. For such an inspirational and storied career (have you ever been to a concert where the singer casually mentions "I wrote this song with Charles Mingus"), it was devastating to think that Joni Mitchell wouldn't get to go out on her own accord, but the Joni Jam and its magic revived a career that many never imagined getting to experience again. However, when she ended the night with a glorious rendition of "The Circle Game," we were all gifted one more ride on this carousel of time and were able to say the final goodbye we never could've dreamed of giving Joni Mitchell the graceful ending to her career that she tremendously deserves.
Set list:
02 "Harlem in Havana"
03 "Hejira"
04 "Cherokee Louise"
05 "Coyote"
06 "Carey"
07 "The Sire of Sorrow (Job’s Sad Song)"
08 "God Must Be a Boogie Man"
09 "Sunny Sunday"
10 "If I Had a Heart"
11 "Refuge of the Roads"
12 "Night Ride Home"
13 "Both Sides, Now"
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14 "Big Yellow Taxi"
15 "Raised on Robbery"
16 "California" (with Marcus Mumford)
17 "The Magdalene Laundries"
18 "Ladies of the Canyon" (with Annie Lennox)
19 "Summertime" (George Gershwin cover)
20 "Come in From the Cold"
21 "A Case of You"
22 "I'm Still Standing" (Elton John cover with Elton John)
23 "Dog Eat Dog"
24 "Amelia"
25 "If"
26 "Shine"
27 "The Circle Game"
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