As a fan of Americana, it’d been a while since I’d seen a real rock show. But Jesse Malin certainly delivered a fist-pumpin rock show. He strolled out in his black work jacket and rivets and worked his butt off the entire show. If you were looking for the acoustic colors of “The Fine Art of Self-Destruction” the St. Mark’s Social (Jesse’s new band) would have none of it. They were dressed up in punk attire but had a strong rock sensibility.
The show opened with a a guitar riff workout. “Burnin’ Down the Bowery” let the crowd know right away what what kind of show it would be. Jesse’s fist and rhythmic gestures moved the crowd. Unlike peer and friend Ryan Adams, Jesse seems much more able to switch from the rockers (at the beginning of the set) to the more thoughtful tunes with the acoustic guitar and back again.
He did throw in some older tunes from his debut album. “Queen of the Underworld” got  the rock-treatment. Jesse’s punk-influenced voice was a bit further back in the mix but the tune felt right with the rock band behind it. Old favorite “Wendy” was dedicated to Tom Waits and the track melded Jesse’s two disparate styles.
Jesse is also a great storyteller and easily switches between the two at shows. I was at a show a few years back where he described a trip to a Cracker Barrel restaurant ending in the question “Where you from?” and Jesse then began to sing “Brooklyn.” This time he had everyone in the audience sit down with him and sang the b-side cover of the Replacements “Bastards of Young.” Although, I didn’t know the tune, it was another moving example of how Jesse can easily connect to the crowd.
My only real complaint is that Jesse didn’t play my favorite tune “Brooklyn.” But the single “Burnin’ Down the Bowery” really embodies the new album “Love it to Life” and the live sound and Brooklyn wouldn’t have fit in. Jesse rocked the show just right on a school night for this teacher. I was even in bed by 11 with my ears ringing.
Photos by Suzanne Davis
About the author: Jeff is a teacher in the Boston area. When not buried correcting papers, Jeff can be found plucking various stringed instruments and listening to all types of americana music.