Jack Johnson along with special guests, Handmade Moments, invited fans to Meet The Moonlight Friday night at Merriweather Post Pavilion.
The outdoor summer concert season is in full swing, and there is no better place in Maryland to see an outdoor concert than Merriweather Post Pavilion. Truthfully…there’s no better place for an artist to play either as the venue features amenities for performers like a private pool, cabanas, and resort-style dressing rooms. But back to the fans. From the pit, to the recently added sky lawn, Merriweather Post Pavilion was packed and the crowd was excited to see the incredibly talented Handmade Moments and man-of-the-evening, Jack Johnson.
Starting the night off with their intriguing mix of folk, hip-hop, rock, and jazz were the enchanting husband and wife duo of Joel Ludford and Anna Moss, better known as Handmade Moments. A humble two-some who beautifully set the mood for an evening of great music.
Starting their set with a cover of Bill Withers’ “Grandma’s Hands,” the crowd felt as if they were instantly transported to an intimate dim-lit lounge in New Orleans, the place our duo calls home. The pair showed off their incredible musical talents using an array of instruments including a saxophone, upright bass, tuba, and bass clarinet, which coupled with Anna’s crooning voice, throwback scat, and the couple’s tag-team beatboxing as one sang, the other would provide the background percussion. It was a highlight reel of how a delightful twosome can truly fill a stage.
The crowd was treated to original songs like “Hole in the Ocean,” and “Where Do You Find the Time,” which highlighted the pair’s beautiful harmonies, as well as covers of crowd favorites like Chaka Khan’s “Tell Me Something Good” and ending the night with The Paragons’ “Tide is High.”
After the fantastic opening set from Handmade Moments, the crowd was primed and ready for the incredibly talented Jack Johnson. Fans couldn’t wait to hear his smooth and soothing voice coupled with the laid-back guitar grooves that they’ve grown to love for the better part of two decades. With ten Billboard Number 1’s, Jack’s catalog of relaxed summer-vibe singalong songs was the perfect soundtrack for the evening.As soon as the band took to the stage, Jack Johnson fans noticed several new faces as his band members had tested positive for COVID. Jack himself tested positive three weeks earlier which postponed this show as well as several other stops on the tour. However, fans were instantly eased as the band filled in every spot just perfectly.
The night’s set included Jack Johnson favorites and several mash-ups like “Upside Down” mashed with Sublime’s “Badfish,” and “Bubble Toes” mashed with Steve Miller Band’s “The Joker.” There was also a smooth rendition of “Breakdown” featuring Jack on the ukulele and guest Dan Lebowitz on the steel guitar, along with”Costume Party” from his newly released album Meet The Moonlight.
Throughout the set, fans felt as though they were watching their college best friend, listening to stories of his wife and kids, weaving his life through the lyrics as they were sung back to him with delight. Songs about love, which Jack said are written for his wife, and songs about breakups, which Jack said are written for his friends.
At the end of the set, Jack brought out Joel and Anna from Handmade Moments to join him for another new song from Meet The Moonlight, “Calm Down,” a fun cover of Tom Petty’s “You Don’t Know How it Feels” which featured Joel headbanging while playing a mandolin (something you don’t see every day), and ending with “Mudfootball” as Anna stole the show with her incredible saxophone solo.
Stepping back on stage for the encore was Jack solo, just him and his guitar, which magically filled the entire venue. Taking requests from the crowd, and playing his songs “campfire-style,” the crowd was treated to stripped-down versions of “Do You Remember,” “Gone,” a cover of Jimmy Buffet’s “A Pirate Looks At Forty,” “Shot Reverse Shot,” and “Angel” which transformed into the night ending “Better Together,” a statement that never rang more true than now, after what feels like years apart.
The Meet The Moonlight tour continues through October and will have new special guests such as Ziggy Marley, Ben Harper, Lake Street Drive, and more! Visit his website for tour dates and tickets, and don’t forget to check out Meet The Moonlight streaming across all platforms.JACK JOHNSON
Website Facebook Twitter
