Joni Mitchell gave her first ticketed and billed concert in 20 years on Saturday at the Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington. The so-called Joni Jam saw her joined by over a dozen guest singers and musicians, who paid tribute by either singing her songs themselves, duetting with her or backing her.
The two-hour-40-minute show began with an ensemble version of “Big Yellow Taxi” and ended 24 songs later with Mitchell crooning the Frank Sinatra hit “Young at Heart.” All the guests stayed on stage throughout the show. About half — Brandi Carlile, who served as host, Marcus Mumford, Lucius, Celisse Hendrerson, Blake Mills, Allison Russell and Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes — had performed with her at her surprise Newport Folk Festival appearance last summer.
There were also a few new additions, notably Annie Lennox, Sarah McLachlan and Wendy and Lisa of Prince and the Revolution. Between songs, Joni told stories about her life and some of the performers told tales of previous encounters with Mitchell and her music. She even strapped on a guitar and played lead on the first two encore numbers, “Just Like This Train” and “If.”
It was, by all accounts, an extraordinary show, one that many people thought they’d never see. (Variety)
Setlist:
- “Big Yellow Taxi”
- “Night Ride Home”
- “Raised on Robbery” (with Celise Henderson)
- “Come In From the Cold” (with Marcus Mumford)
- “Amelia” (with Blake Mills)
- “Carey”
- “Sex Kills” (with Celisse Hendrson)
- “Summertime” (George Gershwin cover with Ben Lusher on piano)
- “Ladies of the Canyon” (with Annie Lennox)
- “Help Me” (with Celisse Henderson)
- “Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way” (original song written and sung by Rick Whitfield)
- “Love Potion No. 9” (Clovers cover)
- “A Case of You” (with Marcus Mumford and Brandi Carlile)
- “A Strange Boy” (with Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman)
- “Cactus Tree” (with Lucius)
- “California” (with Marcus Mumford)
- “Blue” (with Sarah McLachlan)
- “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” (Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers cover)
- “Shine” (with Brandi Carlile)
- “Both Sides Now”
- “The Circle Game”
Encore - “Just Like This Train”
- “If”
- “Young at Heart” (Frank Sinatra cover, with Allison Russell on clarinet and Brandi Carlile)
