Review + Photos + Set List: She and Him strike sleepy AM Gold at the Uptown, Monday, August 31

The musical chemistry of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward may garner comparisons to Johnny Cash and June Carter; but anyone who’s seen She and Him play live knows that the duo feels more like a generous older brother and his beautiful kid sister.

A moment during the final riffs of the band’s encore, “Roll Over Beethoven,” illustrated the duo’s dynamic perfectly. Deschanel and Ward shared the keyboard in the furious climax of Chuck Berry’s classic song. When Ward finished masterfully pounding the upper half of the piano, he slammed his fingers on it, and walked away. As he strutted across the stage, he suddenly turns and gestures his hands outwards to Deschanel. Isn’t she beautiful? It’s all her, the gesture said. Deschanel may have been out front, singing tunes in her suburban drawl and jimmying the tambourine, but M. Ward was calling the shots. She and Him’s performance last night was his show.