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Photos: Jenny Lewis shines at Palace Theatre

Jenny Lewis performed at Palace Theatre on Friday, March 8 with Hayden Pedigo.
Jenny Lewis performed at Palace Theatre on Friday, March 8 with Hayden Pedigo.Laura Buhman for MPR

by Laura Buhman

March 11, 2024

Jenny Lewis and a tight, adept, and engaging backing band brought The Joy’All Ball to St. Paul on Friday evening. Joined by guitarist Nicole Lawrence, bassist Ryan Madora, keyboardist Jess Nolan on keyboards, and drummer Megan Coleman, Lewis powered through songs on her latest record, and mixed in highlights from her earlier career. She and her band have had time to bond and inhabit their songs, because they looked like they were having the time of their lives up there. A cover of Girls’ “Lust for Life” was a shining surprise.

To open the night Texas guitarist finger-picked some beautiful instrumental acoustic numbers, including “The Happiest Times I Ever Ignored.” Sitting by himself on the stage, he had a magnetic presence.