Jam of the Day | Jenny & Johnny - Big Wave

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I've been somewhat infatuated with Jenny Lewis since she went solo with 2006's Rabbit Fur Coat. I know she was making music with Rilo Kiley long before her foray into her soul-stirring, The Watson Twins-backed alt-country dazzle, but nothing RK put out made me wanna keel over and die like "Rise Up With Fists!!" and "Born Secular" did...and still do.

I saw Lewis in concert last summer, and her BF, Johnathan Rice, was an integral part of the show, especially on the Barbara Streisand-inspired medley, "The Next Messiah" and as one of the male choir members on the acapella "Acid Tongue." I suppose it seems natural that these two lovebirds would put out an album together.

So far, all of the imagery surrounding I'm Having Fun Now evokes images of gritty sock-hops and wrong-side-of-the-tracks love. It's like Jenny and Johnny are the new Danny and Sandy. Today's JOTD, and the second song offered up from the new record, "Big Wave," sounds inspired by retro surf-rock yet contains lyrics that speak to the country's current financial crisis. I know it doesn't sound very sexy, but hey, it works.

I'm Having Fun Now is out August 31, 2010 on Warner Brothers.

Jenny & Johnny Tour Dates:
09/01 - Santa Cruz, CA - Rio Theatre
09/02 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
09/03 - Oakland, CA - The New Parish
09/05 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
09/08 - Salt Lake City, UT - The State Room
09/11 - Omaha, NE - The Waiting Room
09/12 - Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center
09/13 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
09/14 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom
09/16 - Washington, D.C. - Black Cat
09/18 - Boston, MA - Agganis Arena^
09/19 - Brooklyn, NY - Williamsburg Waterfront^
09/21 - Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's
09/22 - Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero Theatre *
09/23 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
09/24 - Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club
09/25 - Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge

10/03 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Palladium@

^ Supporting Pavement
* Supporting Superchunk
@ Supporting Belle & Sebastian

Jenny and Johnny Reveal First Song + Tour Dates

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Jenny and Johnny, the new project that features Jenny Lewis and her boyfriend Johnathan Rice has now taken a tangible form, and what we're hearing at this point sounds like it will not disappoint - thank the Lord.

Additionally, it appears they've charted their first ever U.S. tour, which kicks off in California on September 1st and heads east including a show at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, as well as two dates opening for Pavement in Boston and Brooklyn. Tickets for the U.S. dates go on sale starting Friday, June 25th via multiple outlets depending on where you see them.

So download “Scissor Runner” below for the petty price of an email address, and if you like what you hear, you can order their debut LP I'm Having Fun Now in pretty much every format imaginable from their official website.