Pre-pandemic I was at a show nearly every night. I would leave my house for majority of those shows around 8 or 8:30. Although I was always tired, it was just kind of part of my life in some odd way. I never quite felt like death but just felt like I constantly needed a nap. Last night was my second night in a row with a concert. Both nights I was home before 9. I feel like complete death. Prior to pulling up to the show last night, I wondered if I even remembered how to do this. Waking up this morning, it was clear that I do not remember how to concert but the exhaustion I feel today is welcomed and honestly I feel more like myself today than I have in about six months.

Crooners Supper Club in Fridley has been my go to for shows lately. It’s close to my house and I feel more than comfortable with all of the precautions they are taking as far as keeping people safe and healthy. I won’t ramble on about how great this place is because I’ve done it on every post lately but I will say– please support Crooners if you are able and feel comfortable.

The couple of shows I have been to at Crooners lately have been in the parking lot under a giant tent. Although it’s a large space, it has always felt intimate but last night’s show that was held on the small patio connected to the lovely supper club and it had that sense of intimacy that I have been craving. Sure, it was no packed 7th Street Entry where you’re practically on the stage or anything, but the small and simple set up was perfect for the night of music that was to come.

I know of Jon Weber because of my dad. My dad is a bit of a jazz junkie (probably why I never really got into jazz… I think he jinxed it for me and played too much of the “weird crap” when I was growing up) and knows everyone who is anyone in the jazz scene. I won’t go into all of the intricate details of how they met but basically my dad met Jon, took me to one of his shows a couple of years back, and I fell in love.

To say Jon is talented would be an understatement. From his piano playing to his uncanny ability to recall dates and facts, Jon is just a true treasure. Let’s start with the piano playing. If you haven’t caught on or haven’t read this blog for long, let me just spoiler alert this for you– I’m a classically trained pianist myself so I’m a sucker for anything on the piano. Watching Jon (much like watching Davina on Wednesday night) lit the fire under my butt to get me back to my piano that I have been neglecting lately. Jon’s way of just barreling through song after song in key after key is absolutely amazing to me. There’s zero hesitation with him. You say a song, he plays it without question. Even if he doesn’t quite know it, he can figure it out on the spot and at least fool you into thinking he’s known it for years.

This instant recall of hundreds (if not thousands) of songs is part of the charm of Jon along with this uncanny way he remembers tidbits about artists, songs, eras…. again, you name it, Jon has a factoid to share about it. I remember the first time I witnessed this genius in action, I believed every fact he told me without question but, at every show I’ve seen from Jon, he tells the crowd to go ahead and fact check him throughout the performance. That’s exactly what I did last night and I’m proud (and also a bit shocked) to report back that everything I fact checked was right. It’s so amazing, so insane, a little creepy, but, again, amazing to see this all unfold in person.

Jon Weber definitely isn’t my typical cup of tea and, honestly, had it not been for my dad, Jon never would have hit my radar but I am so thankful he did. His performance last night may have been quick and I may not have recognized a single song he performed but I had a smile on my face throughout the evening and, let’s be honest, that’s all that really matters.

I haven’t felt this kind of exhaustion in months but I absolutely love it. It’s a great reminder that, although things have been strange lately and will continue to be strange for a bit longer, things will get back to normal eventually. 

Line Up:

Jon Weber

Venue: Crooners Supper Club

Smell-O-Meter – The great outdoors

Average Age of the Crowd- 55

Crowd Surfers- None

Daydream-ability- 4 out of 10

Stage Divers-  None

Broken Bones- None

Spotted Flying Through The Air- Nothing

Fights- None Witnessed

Pukers- None Witnessed

Passed Out People- None Witnessed

Idiots Taken Out By Security- None Witnessed

How Many Times I’ve Seen These Bands Before (or at least how many times I can remember)-

Jon Weber- 4

Celebrity Sightings- None

Overall Score- 7.1 out of 10

Show on Deck- T.B.D.

Shameless Self Promotion- Join My Patreon Here!