It may not be beginning to look like Christmas in Nashville but it sure is beginning to sound like it. Everyday from now until Christmas, there is a holiday themed show at numerous venues throughout the area. The annual Amy Grant and Vince Gill holiday concerts at the Ryman start next week and run through the 22nd. Singer Steve Warner has a holiday show in Franklin next week and Broadway star Tituss Burgess is playing four shows with the Nashville Symphony next weekend titled “Music City Christmas.” There are countless other holiday shows with one certain to suit anyone’s musical taste.
The true holiday highlight for the 2021 holiday concert season is the A Very She & Him Christmas concert presented at the Ryman Wednesday night. The duo consisting of indie-folk singer-songwriter M. Ward and actress Zooey Deschanel are on tour for the first time since the pandemic began and are bringing their brand of Christmas cheers to audiences around the country. The duo, who has been together making music for 15 years, have made the Ryman their Nashville home, having played there on their last two Nashville stops in 2010 and 2013.
Comedian Pete Lee served as the shows opener and had the crowd in stitches. Lee said his only goal was to leave everyone in a good mood and ready for She & Him and that he did. One look at Lee and you’re like ‘oh, that’s who drinks almond milk.’ The comedian left the crowd wondering why exactly motion sensor sinks only work 4% of the time while motion sensor toilets shoot Niagara Falls mist into your cheeks if one flake of lint enters the stall.
The Ryman stage was adorned with Christmas trees, with stage monitors decorated to look like giant piles of snow. Zooey and M. entered the stage and opened the show with “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire).” The She & Him band join the duo after the opener and raced through many Holiday classics including “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and the Beach Boys classic “Christmas Day.”
The Hawaiian-themed Christmas song “Mele Kalikimaka” made famous by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters was one of the packed houses’ favorites of the night. Zooey sang the song together with the band’s two backup singers. M. and Zooey were having some fun banter before leading into “(Everybody’s Waitin’ For) The Man with the Bag” and the New Girl actress just could not hold it together as she caught a fierce case of the giggles. After stopping and restarting the song a few times the singer just gave up and finally got together for the start of the chorus. Though it may have been a bit embarrassing for Deschanel, the crowd absolutely ate it up and the duo laughed along with everyone.
The sad “Blue Christmas” was dedicated to an audience member. Hazel, who was attending her first concert at the ripe old age of 8 years old, was super excited to interact with Zooey and have a song dedicated to her despite the song’s subject matter. A reworked rendition of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” where the female is the creepy stalker thrilled the predominantly female crowd and was followed by other favorites including “Sleigh Ride” and the Beach Boys’ “Little Saint Nick.”
A much-needed break from the onslaught of Christmas songs was well received when the group dove into their back catalogue. “Black Hole,” In the Sun,” and “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?” were some of the She & Him originals that had the crowd singing along. The holiday songs returned with a 1980s classic that Zooey was not quite sure the audience would enjoy unless they were a child of the ‘eighties. Madonna’s “Holiday” had everyone in the stands that were over the age of 35 singing their hearts out. “Holiday” was followed up by an extremely good cover of “All I Want for Christmas Is You” which found the (500) Days of Summer star reaching for some of Mariah Carey’s more lofty high notes.
With the entire Ryman Auditorium audience on its feet clapping and stomping for an encore the duo returned and gave a goosebump rising rendition of The Miracles’ “You Really Got a Hold on Me.” The two musicians decided to show Music City they did not come here to play and that they had the goods. Zooey asked the crowd to remain completely quiet as they performed the song sans microphones and only accompanied by M. Ward on acoustic guitar. Deschanel received one of the loudest ovations I have ever heard at the Ryman once the song was complete.
The She & Him band rejoined them on stage and finished the show with some other holiday classics including “Silent Night” and “Carol of the Bells” before sending everyone home feeling joyous with Three Dog Night’s “Joy to the World.”
The only way this show did not put you in to the holiday spirit is if you are covered in green fur and your heart is at least three times too small.
photo credit: Heather Holloway McCash aka The Wife
Steven McCash is the Lead Music Writer and Utility Man for SoBros Network. Steven is the host of the ‘Drinking With…’ podcast, and the pioneer of New Music Friday, highlighting each week’s new releases in the world of music in addition to the occasional live show review. He also pitches in as a Nashville lifestyle writer and football analyst (hence the ‘Utility Man’ title). Follow on Twitter: @MC_Cash75
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