“You guys all look so great and you sound so great too!” gushed actress
Zooey Deschanel (the titular “She”) to a smitten audience at the Opera House in Toronto, opening their premiere North American tour. “So do you!” shouted one concertgoer in return.

Whether you were lost in Deschanel’s baby blues or not, original songs like “Black Hole” and “Change Is Hard” boasted a rootsy, alt-country flavor, relayed by an experienced band that includes
Lavender Diamond’s Becky Stark. But there’s also a “Him” involved in this equation: Portland’s M. Ward, whose surf punk guitar solos and low-heeled harmonies were the shadow to Deshanel’s sunshiny Linda Ronstadt-like vocals. Deschanel’s melodic tenor got its strongest showcase during a cover of
Joni Mitchell’s “You Turn Me On, I’m a Radio,” the evening’s obligatory Canadian content.

“This is our last song,” she revealed to sighs of disbelief, bridging into the poppy “Sweet Darling” that featured an extended piano solo with both her and Ward tickling the ivories. “It’s true — we only have one record!”

She & Him Set List:
“Black Hole”
“Change Is Hard”
“I Was Made For You”
“Sentimental Heart”
“You Turn Me On, I’m A Radio” (Joni Mitchell cover)
“You Really Got A Hold On Me” (Smokey Robinson cover)
“Take It Back”
“(Untitled New Song)”
“Got Me”
“Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?”
“This Is Not A Test”
“Sweet Darling”
“Bring It On Home To Me” (Sam Cooke cover)
“Magic Trick” (M. Ward)

[Photo: Hamblin/Retna]