“Channel your inner pirate,” Dora Jar called out to the crowd at World Cafe Lounge. “I know some of you have, like, corporate jobs and things, but I know there’s a pirate in you somewhere.” In no time, Jar had the room clapping and stomping along to her sea shanty performance, and to everybody’s delight, we were in for an evening of silly, light-hearted fun.
The Lounge at World Cafe Live welcomed Dora Jar for a stop on her No Way To Relax When You’re On Fire tour. Dora Jarkowski, known as Dora Jar, rose to popularity with her 2021 EP “Digital Meadow,” and grew a steady fanbase after opening for Billie Eilish’s Happier Than Ever tour. While Jar’s debut releases feature softer, more low-key tracks, the new record shows the artist stepping into a bolder and complexly-produced musical style. No Way To Relax When You’re On Fire defies easy categorization; it exists as a sea-shanty folk, psychedelic pop, and indie-rock record.
The evening’s opening act was The Army, The Navy, an indie duo from New Orleans. Childhood friends Maia Ciambriello and Sasha Goldberg offered the crowd an intimate and stripped-down set. Their a capella vocals, reminiscent of Frankie Cosmos and Tiny Habits, rang through during a harmony-filled delivery of “Persimmon,” a track off their newly released album. Both Ciambriello and Goldberg stayed after the show to greet fans.
Dora Jar waltzed on stage to an upbeat “She Loves Me,” the first single off No Way To Relax When You’re On Fire. Her whimsical dancing and generous demeanor helped her command the stage with ease. Not long after, she paused to address the crowd, giving a show of appreciation for World Cafe Live. About the venue, Jar said, “I went to a jazz show here last night with my friend, and then tomorrow there’s gonna be a rock show!” Admittedly, The Lounge at World Cafe Live is one of the city’s more cozy settings for live music. In addition to general admission, the Lounge features unique dining-table, bar-side, and theater-style seating.
After the first half of the setlist, Jar treated the crowd to an unreleased track, “Lucky.” Deviating from the energy of her other songs, she shifted into a reflective mood, opting only for her acoustic guitar. “Lucky” walks through the journey of navigating a fight with a significant other, to eventually arriving at a place of forgiveness and gratitude. “It wasn’t over, it was intermission/ My four leaf clover is our two lips kissing,” Jar sang.
The tempo picked up again with “Timelapse,” which opened with a voice memo of Jar’s voice, barely an existential whisper, asking, “Who am I?” Enthusiastically, Jar asked the crowd to shout out words she should know about Philadelphia. “Wawa, cheesesteak, Eagles, Fairmount,” people said. “Let’s dedicate this one to Philly,” Jar hollered, changing the lyrics of “Timelapse”—originally an homage to New York City—to a tribute to the city of brotherly love.
The crowd cheered as Jar improvised, running down the stage to greet fans seated at the dining tables. After hugging a familiar face in the crowd, Jar stumbled over her Philadelphia rendition of “Timelapse,” dropped into the splits, and filled the room with eccentric laughter.
