Political songs of Jones enjoyed by audience

Grammy award-winner Rickie Lee Jones' soulful crooning enchanted audience members Thursday night with her politically-driven tunes, playing to more than 500 fans at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave. \nJones, best-known for her 1979 hit "Chuck E's in Love," and her four band members played music with varying instrumental emphasis that gave audience members a glimpse into the wide range of heartfelt emotions and playfulness she was able to effortlessly convey.\nThough some of the vocals were hard to hear, Jones' voice was best showcased in her ballads, including the title song from her current album, "The Evening of My Best Day." Her voice has the soft sounds of youth, but includes the depth and emotion that only one experienced at life can evoke. She did not dwell on life's hardships or belabor on the point of a tough life. She instead sang with a "that's life" philosophy.\n"I love you Rickie, I do!" one audience member cried during the show.\nJones quickly answered the proclamation with playful comic overtones and a coquettish smile.\n"So you say," she said.\nJones played guitar though the first several sets, playfully harassing and teasing the stage hands who supplied her with a seemingly endless procession of different guitars. \n"The concert was really interesting, Rickie played a lot more guitar so that was very cool," said Buskirk-Chumley Director Danielle McClelland, a long-time Jones fan. "The performance I attended in Oregon was almost entirely on the piano."\nMany of the songs performed, such as "Ugly Man," had strong political overtones. With all of Jones' music, it was easy to get lost in the sensuous blending of vocals and instruments and forget to listen to her message.\nThe lyrics to "Ugly Man" convey some of her deeper meanings -- "He'll tell you lies, he'll look at you and tell you lies. He grew up to be like his father ugly inside, hey -- ugly man, what's the plan? If people knew, what would they do to the ugly man?"\nThroughout the concert Jones commented on Bloomington's democratic nature and seemed relieved to have such an enthusiastic audience. Jones is scheduled to appear next in Annapolis, Md.