Jenny Owen Youngs with Bess Rogers and Allison Weiss
Where: Iota, 2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
When: 8:30 p.m. Monday
Info: $12; 703-522-8340; iotaclubandcafe.com
It’s time for spring break.
At least it is for the fans of Jenny Owen Youngs — the indie/pop/rock “it” girl, who is on tour with fellow singer/songwriters Bess Rogers and Allison Weiss on the “Spring Break Forever” tour.
“There’s something about spring break that is so fun,” Youngs said of the theme. “Plus Allison is [in college and] on her actual spring break. So are many people who come to our shows.”
Youngs first found commercial and critical success about two years ago with the release of her debut album, “Batten Down the Hatches.” When one song (the title of which can’t be printed in a family newspaper) was used in the cable sitcom “Weeds,” her star rose.
Her 2009 release “Transmitter Failure,” filled with richly sophisticated songs and clever lyrics, only further cemented her place as an indie/rock/pop artist with true staying power.
Now Youngs is back on the road supporting the album and a just-released recording of alternative versions of five songs from it that were made available this week on iTunes.
“We play some of the fast songs more as ballads and vice versa,” Youngs said of the newer versions. “I do like to bring something new to the table.”
Although Youngs promises some covers, perhaps of a Beach Boys classic, don’t listen for any new songs from Youngs just yet. Like the meticulous artist that she is, Youngs said she’s taking some time to analyze and perfect her new songs before she debuts them.
Once again, Youngs said she is grabbing inspiration from literature — she is a fan of such volumes as “The Wind Up Bird Chronicle” by Murakami Haruki and “Awakenings,” by Oliver Sachs — to bring her songs to fruition.
“I try to read things that are beautifully written as often as possible,” Youngs said. “It’s easy to forget — when you’re in a van all the time — about beautiful vocabulary and writing.”
Although she’s still a fan of her albums, she has spotted areas that she’d like to change before she records again.
“I’m at the place where I still really love it but I’m definitely listening to it now and is tells me exactly what I want to do for the next record,” she said. “For example, [some songs on] the album were written very last minute; we finished the lyrics about half an hour before I sang them. I want to make sure the lyrics are comfortable in my mouth, natural, before we record.”
