Hiatt and Lovett at the Calvin

Thanks to a wandering gallstone, my musical forays were limited this week, but I did get to the amazing pairing of Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt at the Calvin Theater in Northampton Mass on Saturday night.

These are two of my favorite American songwriters, and the solo acoustic trade-a-song approach highlight the songwriting and performing ability of both.

Of the two, Lovett seemed a bit more adventurous in his song selection, choosing lesser-known, but deserving to be better known songs like, Creeps Like Me and Last of the Family Reserve. Hiatt hit his high points, and even tried out a few from his new album Same Old Man.

A helluva week for music

Every once in a while, there's a week like this:

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Will Hoge
Toad's Place, New Haven
Tuesday Feb. 19, 8 pm

Hoge and Isbell are two or the best young Southern songwriters in a crowded songwriting city. Hoge, is a rocker from a city of country singers. He's been compared favorably to the young Springsteen, and he's not afraid of some old-fashioned rock and roll. Isbell presided over the quintessential modern Southern rock band when he was songwriter and singer for Drive-By Truckers. He rocks as hard with the 400 Unit. Singer-songwriter Dawn Landes opens.






Red Stick Ramblers
Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton, Mass
Tuesday Feb. 19, 7 pm

As talented a bunch of boys who have ever come out of Louisiana, this combo crosses the lines from Texas swing, to Cajun to gypsy jazz, and they do it all well. What's more, they make you want to move. This is not some academic dissection of musical genres. This is fun.

Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys
Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton, Mass
Thursday, Feb. 21, 7 pm

Riley and his crew are as comfortable with straight-ahead, Cajun traditional dance music as they are with re-interpreting swamp-pop, zydeco and creole music. Riley is a genius on any kind of accordion, and fiddle, and his longtime partner David Greeley is his match.

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Toad's Place, New Haven
Friday, Feb. 22, 8 pm

If you haven't rocked to a Vermont band since Phish kissed the arenas goodbye, this band will give you the opportunity to feel like you're back and kicking. Favorites on the festival scene, Potter and band stick to the essentials, and have re-discovered the power of rock and roll.

Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt
Calvin Theater, Northampton Mass
Saturday, Feb. 23 8 pm

These estimable songwriters and singers have toured together before. This time Guy Clark stays at home, but all the more room for Lovett and Hiatt to stretch through their back catalogue to find the many polished gems.



Mardi Gras Ball with:
Red Stick Ramblers
Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys
Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band
Rhodes-On-The-Pawtuxet, Cranston, RI
Sat. Feb 23, 6 pm

This yearly fundraiser is a bit of a "tardi Gras" celebration, but who sticks by the rules when there's so much fun to be had. Always a fundraiser, this year teams the abovementioned Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys with The Red Stick Ramblers and zydeco giant, Keith Frank. It's always an amazing night in the splendid confines of the restored dance hall in Rhode Island.

Erin McKeown
Music for a Change
Wilde Auditorium, University of Hartford
Sat. Feb 23, 7:30 pm

We at WWUH would like to think of this as a homecoming of sorts as we were among the first to recognize the outrageous talent of this talented singer, songwriter and performer. McKeown was precocious, and now she's just outrageously talented.

Hiatt and Lovett tix on sale

John Hiatt and Lyle Lovett will visit the Calvin Theater in Northampton MA on February 23 and advance ticket just went on sale to members of the Iron Horse mailing list. It's an acoustic show, and appears the two will share the stage.

I was able to get a couple of tickets in the first row, and not worry that the scalpers were going to beat me to it.

Two new works of American musical genius

We get frightening politicians from Texas, but great songwriters. Something about that big, wild, former piece of Mexico triggers a demon that works as a fascinating catalyst in the musical and political mind.

This month we've gotten two new CDs (I still call them albums, but everyone under 30 knows they're just a loosely collected series of files), from two of our finest songwriters.

After a long drought, the new album from Lyle Lovett, and his Large Band, It's Not Big It's Large, is a collection of originals which proves that Lovett can write and sing with an emotional depth and sophistication unmatched by nearly any American artist. Some of this stuff is sad and deep, and some of it is superficial and fun, but all of it is an unmitigated pleasure to hear. Though recorded with the Large Band, the CD features a number of contemplative, simple, quiet acoustic numbers. When he corrals the live band into a romp, it's the usual, and unusual mix of American genres, folk, blues, rhythm and blues, jazz, gospel and string band.

Steve Earle ought to be as big as Bruce Springsteen, but Earle, who began his career on the country charts, was soon abandoned by that audience, which couldn't accept his rebellious rock and roll persona. His affinity for country also held him from capturing the ears of rock audiences who are prejudiced against a country sound. And, yes, Earle bears a certain amount of responsibility for unraveling his own career. After he released as pointed a protest album as any released during these turbulent times, The Revolution Starts Now, Earle has created Washington Square Serenade, an album celebrating the new loves in his life, New York City and his new wife Alison Moorer. The album is produced by John King of the Dust Brothers, and rolls between regret and celebration. As ususal, it's a brawny, brainy, lovely set of American music.