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Jack Johnson with Amos Lee, The Lawn at White River, Indianapolis, Indiana, May 31, 2014

By: Meghan Barich

It was a fairytale kind of night for Jack Johnson at Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Park in Indianapolis on June 1, 2014.  It’s a happy thing, a Jack Johnson show. Few artists have the ability to bring social consciousness surrounding environmental issues wrapped up in happy, joyful music. But that’s exactly what fans get they arrive at one of his concerts.

“Hey, guys,” Johnson called out the audience’s eyes set to the stage. “There’s a rainbow behind you.” And that set the tone for the rest of the show, a befitting gift for Mother Nature’s troubadour. With the storms that cut short opening act, Amos Lee, beyond the venue, Jack Johnson played a full set to a sold-out Indianapolis crowd.

Delivering crowd-pleasing tunes for the whole show, Johnson engaged the fans in “the pit” by taking requests or at least acknowledging that he heard them. Who doesn’t like to be heard? The fans responded in kind by singing along to every song, even when Johnson quieted himself to hear the crowd serenate him—a come-to-be-expected part of a Jack Johnson show. This Indianapolis show included a mash up of Grateful Dead’s “Not Fade Way” with audience participation claps, an interesting ode to one of Jack Johnson’s apparent musical influencers.

Long-time friend and early supporter of Johnson’s music, Zach Gill of ALO, joined the band for the full set, adding the rich sounds of his voice, upright piano and ukulele. Johnson brought out the entire Amos Lee band for the encore where they performed an Amos Lee fan favorite, “Black River”. Then Johnson invited Zach Gill to lead the crew in some “baby-making” music to end the show with ALO’s “Girl, I Wanna Lay You Down”. The crowd ignited for the final tune, and those unfamiliar with ALO surely became fans that night.

Jack Johnson has sold out larger venues than The Lawn at White River and the location choice made for more intimate show. Set against the river with the Indianapolis skyline in the rear, on a beautiful late-spring evening, surrounded by smiling faces listening to good music—it really doesn’t get much better than that.

Photos by Phierce Photography, Keith Griner ~ www.phiercephotography.com/

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