She & Him Pump Up the 'Volumes' during their LA Orpheum Theatre Tour
She & Him performed two nights at Los Angeles' historic Orpheum Theatre on October 2rd and 3rd, and night one was a 29-song love letter to their catalog. Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward stopped on Broadway as part of their Pump Up the Volumes Tour, a run built around their three albums of original music. The result was one of the warmest concerts in LA this Fall: vintage Pop, classic covers, an opener who became part of the show, and a crowd that refused to stay in its seats.
The heart of the set came from She & Him's Volume records. Fans heard "Thieves," "I Was Made for You," "In the Sun," "This Is Not a Test," "Sentimental Heart" and "I Thought I Saw Your Face Today," the beloved songs many of their fans treasure.
Cover songs have always been part of the band's live set, and the Orpheum got plenty. She & Him performed songs such as:
• "Ridin' in My Car" (NRBQ)
• "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" (The Miracles)
• "Unchained Melody"
• "Gonna Get Along Without You Now" (Skeeter Davis)
• "Darlin'" (The Beach Boys)
• "Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread)"
• "Just a Gigolo / I Ain't Got Nobody" (Louis Prima)
• "Roll Over Beethoven" (Chuck Berry)
Zooey Deschanel welcomed guest singers to perform songs with her such as "Unchained Melody," which gave the theatre a hushed, intimate moment before the full band returned onstage.
This was not a sit-quietly kind of concert. Fans danced in the aisles, swayed in their seats and sang along to nearly every chorus. As the set built, more and more of the audience rose to their feet. For many in the room the night was clearly emotional, with these songs tied to years of memories, and the shared sing-alongs made the grand old theatre feel small and personal.
One of the night's best surprises came late in the main set, when singer-songwriter, Jordana, joined She & Him. Together they performed "Never Wanted Your Love," "I Could've Been Your Girl" and "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?" She came back again during the encore for "Sweet Darlin'." Her voice blended naturally with Deschanel's, and the collaborations gave the show a sense of community rather than a simple opener-and-headliner bill.
The final moment belonged to the audience. She & Him took a request from the crowd and closed the show with Screamin' Jay Hawkins' "I Put a Spell on You" as a second encore. It was a fitting goodbye: spontaneous, a little theatrical, and built on the back-and-forth between band and fans that defined the whole night.
The love for She & Him showed up at the merch table too. Fans lined up to buy vinyl records and tour t-shirts, many wanting something to take home from a night that felt special.
Here is the full setlist from night one:
Main set
Thieves
I've Got Your Number, Son
I Was Made for You
Ridin' in My Car (NRBQ cover)
Don't Look Back
In the Sun
Over It Over Again
This Is Not a Test
Acoustic
Would You Like to Take a Walk? (Harry Warren cover)
You've Really Got a Hold on Me (The Miracles cover)
Unchained Melody
Full band
Lingering Still
Baby
Take It Back
Sentimental Heart
Gonna Get Along Without You Now (Skeeter Davis cover)
Magic Trick (M. Ward song)
Turn to White
I Thought I Saw Your Face Today
Darlin' (The Beach Boys cover)
Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread)
Black Hole
Never Wanted Your Love (with Jordana)
I Could've Been Your Girl (with Jordana)
Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? (with Jordana)
Encore
Just a Gigolo / I Ain't Got Nobody (Louis Prima cover)
Roll Over Beethoven (Chuck Berry cover)
Sweet Darlin' (with Jordana)
Encore 2
I Put a Spell on You (Screamin' Jay Hawkins cover, audience request)
Coverage by Veronica Potes // Instagram: @veropoteart
Contact for us for advertising! If you would like to feature your event, art, music, venue, or business on SoundBite Magazine, send an email to soundbitemag@gmail.com for features and promotional inquiries.
For upcoming events and artists features, follow SoundBite Magazine on Instagram, X, Facebook, and YouTube.