The Jayhawks:The Englert Theatre, March 5, 2022
The Jayhawks may not have attracted a new generation of fans to the Englert Theatre, but loyal fans of yesteryear found plenty of comfort in the Midwest mainstay Saturday night. The set was mellow and predictable, with the greatest excitement and movement being an occasional switch from acoustic to electric guitar. But in The Jayhawks’ case, predictability lends itself to an intimate, engaging performance and is certainly the secret behind the band’s consistent cult status of 37 years.
Formed in 1985, The Jayhawks entered the scene at the height of the alternative Minneapolis sound with legendary acts like The Replacements, Hüsker Dü, and The Suburbs creating a hub for a unique punk rock scene. The Jayhawks rose up almost out of reaction to the city’s rock dominance, pushing back with a new kind of alternative country. As the flashier punk bands died out with short but influential careers, The Jayhawks remained with a steady flame, dedicated to its Midwest fanbase—burning through 11 albums and quietly influencing major indie country successors.
The band has an illustrious and constant touring reputation throughout Minneapolis, and they effortlessly brought their live performance expertise further south to Iowa City. Frontman Gary Louris’ voice is well-preserved, with an echo of Neil Young’s warbly high register—perfectly suited for shifts between sunny 90s pop and folk ballads heavy on swells of steel guitar.
The stage presentation, along with performance antics, remained sparse. A single addition of an area rug strewn under the drum kit and microphone stands minimized the concert stage feel and more as an entry into The Jayhawks’ living room. The Englert Theatre’s intimate setting complemented an equally personable set, with mentions of wives, mothers in the audience, and song dedications to those lost.
Seeing the band live greatly emphasizes the band’s talent for harmonies, though the female backing vocals of keyboardist Karen Grotberg were sorely missing. The concert would occasionally teeter towards being a Louris solo showcase with rock-heavy “Waiting For the Sun” or quiet Rainy Day Music opener “Stumbling Through the Dark.”
But whenever it edged close, the remaining bandmembers swooped in for moments like drummer Tim O’Reagan singing sorrowfully on “Tampa to Tulsa” with tender, scaled-back Louris harmonies. The band’s highest-charting single, “Blue,” soared highest with full-bodied harmonies on its memorable chorus—belted out while shoes stomped and eyes closed.
Throughout the night, The Jayhawks made it easy to forget the age of the hits and its singers, but a nostalgic wistfulness hung over anecdotes between songs, and especially within the crowd. The loyalty of the crowd was palpable and unique compared to most band followings. While many bands enjoy large-scale commercial fandom over short periods of time, The Jayhawks’ dedication to steady lower scale success, breeds a different kind of groupie: one that grows old with the band.
In one aisle alone, there are few from Iowa City, with travelers from Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, to name a few. The question isn’t whether everyone’s excited to see the alt-country band; it’s how many times they’ve already seen The Jayhawks live. Quick observations from surrounding audience members, who turn to others as if old friends, presented an average of 7 Jayhawks concerts for many.
A trend of repeated attendance is a testament to a band that’s easy to love and knows how to put on a reliable performance of familiarity. Audience members didn’t need to scramble to their phone to record songs they’ve seen live countless times, but no one could help squealing with audible excitement once familiar guitar chords began.
In true Iowa fashion, the concert day happened to be plagued with icy downpours and a looming tornado watch. And though an occasional audience member’s phone would light up from an anxious check of the weather radar, The Jayhawks provided warmth under the theatre’s roof with their transporting power to the past.
Elisabeth Oster 