The Ballad Of Sean And Yoko

It's no secret that JI has a love for the new Sean Lennon album -- enough to brave the rapidly declining New York temps to head to the Bowery Ballroom for the 31-year-old reconditioned singer/songwriter's live show. And we say "reconditioned" in only the most loving way -- he owes a lot this time around to his Dad's former group (the Gap Band) but his lyrics have moved into a bitter realm, a jaded insider, if you will.

As this JI sidled up to the bar about 20 minutes prior to Lennon's set, the path was cleared and Yoko herself (minus extortionists) was quickly ushered into the balcony. Sheryl Crow stunt-double herself, Martha Wainwright, was spotted, along with Vincent Gallo and Teddy Thompson.

Aside from one cut from his first album, Lennon stuck with his "Friendly Fire" arsenal. And for the most part, he recreated the mood and passion pretty well. The smoothness of the production might have caught up to him a bit; it did sound a little rough and gruff around the edges. Lennon himself was in a great mood, excited about finally having a guitar tech ("someone to change my strings!). Things almost got ugly as some dude near the front tossed some sort of aluminum sculpture toward the stage, in the general direction of keyboardist Yuka Honda. He wasn't too happy about this but played it off well, dedicating "Dead Meat" to "that guy."

What was most satisfying: here's a guy who has been in the spotlight since birth. His friends are way more famous than our friends. Heck, he even knows Lindsay Lohan. Yet with all that cred, he still was very humble at the end. Headlining the Bowery Ballroom was monumental to him, and he was extra excited that he sold it out. He even told us so. Maybe this JI will take some direction from that JI. Probably not.