Joni Mitchell Sang Classics She Hadn’t Performed In Decades, Dissed Donald Trump At Joni Jam In LA
Saturday night, Joni Mitchell played her first Los Angeles show in 28 years at the Hollywood Bowl. Like her 2022 surprise set at Newport Folk Festival and her 2023 headlining gig at the Gorge Amphitheater, the legendary singer-songwriter was joined by her rotating cast of backing band members known as the Joni Jam. This go around, the band included Brandi Carlile, Fleet Foxes’ Robin Pecknold, Annie Lennox, Dawes’ Taylor Goldsmith, Marcus Mumford, Blake Mills, Jon Batiste, Jacob Collier, Allison Russell, Lucius, Abe Rounds, Celisse, Phil and Tim Hanseroth, Sista Strings, and Rita Wilson. Together, they performed some songs Mitchell hadn’t done live in decades.
Some setlist highlights include “God Must Be A Boogie Man” for the first time since 1983, “Dog Eat Dog” for the first time since 1985, “Sunny Sunday” for the first time since 1995, “Refuge Of The Roads” for the first time since 1998, and “Hejira” for the first time since 2000. There was also an Elton John cover, a George Gershwin cover, and plenty of frequent Joni staples like “California,” “Both Sides, Now,” “Carey,” “A Case Of You,” and “Big Yellow Taxi.” It was a whopping 27-song setlist. Not bad for 80 years old!
When an audience member shouted a Trump diss after “Dog Eat Dog” Mitchell responded, “‘Fuck Donald Trump’ – I love that song.” She later added, “I wish I could vote – I’m a Canadian,” Billboard reports. “I’m one of those lousy immigrants.”
@_alyssayung_ joni mitchell is the voice of a generation <3 #jonimitchell #jonijam #hollywoodbowl #harriswalz #brandicarlile #harriswalz2024 ♬ original sound – alyssa!!
Mitchell’s doing a second Jam tonight. See some fan-captured clips and the full setlist below.
SETLIST:
“Be Cool” (First Time Since 2000)
“Harlem In Havana” (Live Debut)
“Hejira” (First Time Since 2000)
“Cherokee Louise” (First Time Since 1995)
“Coyote” (First Time Since 2001)
“Carey”
“The Sire Of Sorrow (Job’s Sad Song)” (Live Debut)
“God Must Be A Boogie Man” (First Time Since 1983)
“Sunny Sunday” (First Time Since 1995)
“If I Had A Heart” (Live Debut)
“Refuge Of The Roads” (First Time Since 1998)
“Night Ride Home”
“Both Sides, Now” (Followed By Intermission)
SET 2
“Big Yellow Taxi”
“Raised On Robbery”
“California” (With Marcus Mumford)
“The Magdalene Laundries” (First Time Since 1998)
“Ladies Of The Canyon” (With Annie Lennox)
“Summertime” (George Gershwin Cover)
“Come In From The Cold”
“A Case Of You”
“I’m Still Standing” (Elton John Cover)
“Dog Eat Dog” (First Time Since 1985)
“Amelia”
“If”
“Shine”
“The Circle Game”
UPDATE: Night 2 featured onstage appearances from Elton John and Meryl Streep, and backstage appearances from Lucy Dacus and Chappell Roan. Brandi Carlile posted some photos, and a video of the group singing “I’m Still Standing.”
