Written by: Geoff Tischman

The Jayhawks brought their breezy blend of sonorous Americana and harmonic roots rock to the Fairfield Theater Company the other night (1/20) and it was just about the greatest way to spend a Sunday evening I can imagine.

Led by Gary Louris, the Minnesota outfit has been busy recently, putting out two records in the last two years–2016’s Paging Mr. Proust and last year’s marvelous Back Roads And Abandoned Motels. And with drummer Tim O’Reagan, keyboardist Karen Grotberg, bassist Marc Perlman and violinist John Jackson, their sound is as rich and textured as ever.

The band’s nearly 25-song set was filled with beloved numbers from their back catalog like “Blue” and “The Man Who Loved Life” as well as unexpected covers like a rousing take on The Dixie Chicks’ “Everybody Knows” and a scorchingly cool version of Chris Bell’s “I Am The Cosmos.”

Louris’ voice is a timeless instrument and he can still hit the euphoric hight notes with ease. Other highlights included the hook-laden “Tailspin” and the melodic “Waiting For The Sun” which was one of the standouts on the band’s fabulous Hollywood Town Hall record.

Set List:

1. I’m Gonna Make You Love Me
2. The Man Who Loved Life
3. Lovers of the Sun
4. Waiting for the Sun
5. Tampa to Tulsa
6. Everybody Knows
7. Trouble
8. I’d Run Away
9. Smile
10. Gonna Be a Darkness
11. Quiet Corners & Empty Spaces
12. Bottomless Cup
13. Backwards Women
14. Break In The Clouds
15. All The Right Reasons
16. Come Cryin’ To Me
17. Tailspin
18. Blue
19. Settled Down Like Rain
20. Angelyne
21. Save It For A Rainy Day
22. I Am The Cosmos
23. Until You Came Along