She and Him Cover Smokey Robinson in New York

At its best, American music draws from a number of deep wells. Older genres such as country, blues, Appalachian folk and jazz are combined to create something new and emotional, beautiful and revelatory all at the same time. Every so often lightning strikes and a group of performers find a niche and a sound that clicks in a way that is hard to describe. Music has a magic all its own in that regard. It's the moment we all know and love, and we know it when we hear it. Monday night at NYC's Bowery Ballroom was just one of those nights for She and Him, the folk outfit fronted by Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward.

Touring in support of the recently released 'Volume 2,' She and Him settled in comfortably, opening with NRBQ's 'Ridin' in My Car' and 'Thieves,' both from the new album, followed by the Latin-flavored 'Lingering Still' and the pop of 'Over it Over Again.' Then something special began to slip into the set, slowly -- call it magic, call it great music.

Watching Deschanel sing 'Change Is Hard,' it's nearly impossible not to think of great country crooners like Emmylou Harris, yet Deshanel's voice is all her own. Accompanied by M. Ward's plaintive yet powerful guitar work, the audience watched in rapt silence as the band reached down deep and found that special something. Then, without a blink, they segued right into the jazzy vocal mixed with '60s pop of 'Thought I Saw Your Face Today' and a scorching cover of Smokey Robinson's soul classic 'You Really Got a Hold on Me.' By the time they got around to 'Sentimental Heart' and 'Don't Look Back,' the audience was awash in the fact that they'd seen a band grab a bolt of lightning.

As Zooey bounced around the stage while the band jammed out during 'Sweet Darlin',' Ward let rip a guitar solo that brought the house down. The crowd roared, hands above their heads, moving as one to the music, enjoying the moment.

And, like a bolt of lightning, it was gone in the blink of an eye. The show over, a happy audience headed back out into the rain.