So last night we saw the first Jon Brion show at the Coronet Theater. Despite a few familiar flourishes, this venue is no Largo redux. I came craving honey chicken and ended up with some pre-show Vito’s (which I think will be a necessary pre-show ritual from now on).

I’ve seen Jon’s shows fairly regularly for the past six years; I can comfortably say I’ve probably sat through no less than 50 of his shows (a modest estimate, truthfully). I’ve seen him at his worst and I’ve seen him at his best (and, in the case of the Thursday after Elliott Smith’s death, both his best and worst simultaneously). Last night was an appropriate, middle of the road Jon show – his usual mind blowing bas of musical genius in full display.

I’m sure there will be numerous accounts of last night’s show, so just a few thoughts:

– I’ve made official Largo at the Coronet History: I had the first Jon Brion request at his new venue. Granted his version of Baba O’Riley started our as a silly ragtime medley before launching into piano-mad vivaciousness, but it’s always fun to see him try a new and unexpected approach to the song’s electronic arpeggios.

– I then made even more official history: I had the last request of Jon’s first set. Again, I wasn’t expecting him to turn “Don’t Think Twice” into his Les Paul ditty, but there’s never a bad way to hear Dylan at his best. (Similarly, two requests out of the four means I easily glided into the record books for most requests in his first show – I know these are ridiculous records, but they are my ridiculous records!)

– Speaking of requests, people need to know the protocol for them. It’s pretty simple, actually: when Jon says “Any requests” or “Let’s have a request” or something like that, you yell out your request. Conversely, when Jon doesn’t ask for requests, you don’t yell for them. You definitely don’t yell for them throughout the entire show.

– I had come to terms with a new venue and more people and a different atmosphere. However, as we were waiting for the curtains to part, I had a sinking terror about what the stage would look like. What if the piano wasn’t stage right? What if there was a ridiculous backdrop? Rest assured the stage was a familiar sight for Largo regulars (Viking helmet and all). Only a few (positive) tweaks: the drum area no longer looks like a death trap and is properly illuminated, and the stage is a bit larger which means Jon can jump around a bit more and also has to move a bit faster during his transition from drums to piano.

– Largo’s cell phone policy: exactly the same. God bless.