If you’ve seen a concert in Philadelphia over the past 20 years, there’s a good chance you’ve seen Eliza Hardy Jones. The pianist, singer-songwriter, and versatile musician has been a key player in an array of acts, going back to her early aughties indie combo Buried Beds and stretching forth to her present day gig as keyboardist and backing vocalist in The War On Drugs. She’s also performed with Strand of Oaks, Grace Potter, The Philadelphia Eagles (on their hit holiday album)…the list goes on.
When she has a rare moment of free time, Jones makes her own music, and this spring released her latest LP, Pickpocket. It’s a stirring meditation on loss, grief, and healing, with buoyant melodies and high-energy arrangements carrying the listener on an emotive journey with hope and empathy. You can read about the album’s lead single “This Is The Year” in this reflective piece by WXPN’s Heather Hurlock. To delve further into the album, which Jones released independently earlier this month, she performed live in WXPN Studios for The Key Studio Sessions.
Joining her on this set are an all star cast of her friends and bandmates past and present: her longtime creative collaborator Brandon Beaver from Buried Beds, as well as Toby Leaman of Dr. Dog (you can hear Jones’ vocals on “Mirror Mirror” from Shame Shame) and The War On Drugs’ Charlie Hall on drums, and you can watch the performance below. Jones will celebrate the release of Pickpocket with a listening event and Q&A with WXPN program director Bruce Warren on Wednesday, May 29th at the 48 Record Bar in Old City; more information can be found at the venue’s website. Listen to Pickpocket and pick up vinyl at Jones’ website, and keep an ear out to hear her on a future edition of World Cafe.