Monday, February 22, 2010
SHAWN COLVIN at One World Theatre 2-19-10
She still reigns. When it comes to the whole singer/songwriter package, especially female, nobody is yet to come close. I know the past decade hasn't been very prolific for new music but it has yielded one really good record, "These Four Walls" from 2006. Regardless, her entire catalog still stands up as fresh as the individual albums did the day they came out. She is such a good acoustic guitar player and her show is always entertaining. Shawn has a natural story telling way on stage and even though we really didn't get stories we did get a lot of funny little one liners or blurbs about the songs themselves. Her show is always going to hold your attention.
On this night she was doing 2 shows. We were at the early show and it lasted about 1 1/2 hours. We had $30 tickets (+$12 for service charge-how do you spell ripoff?) that were side stage, 3rd row. This place is tiny, 300 seats and is built so that no matter where you are sitting, you are close to the stage. Awesome venue! And sound!
We got the standards, "Trouble" and "Shotgun Down The Avalanche." During "Trouble" she morphed into the song she stole from to write it, Crowded House's "Private Universe." We also got some gems, "Steady On" and "A Matter of Minutes." She was definitely in a "Fat City" mood as we got "Polaroids" (the long version where in the middle she goes into all of the songs, about 6 of them, stolen to write that song!), "Tennessee," "Round of Blues" and "I Don't Know Why." We got "Window to the World" and "This Must Be The Place" from "Cover Girl." Also in the set were "Witchita Skyline" and "Fill Me Up."
The other covers she did were a stunning "That's The Way Love Goes," a Lefty Frizzel song made popular by Merle Haggard, "Crazy," the Gnarls Barkley tune and Tom Waits's "Hold On." As anybody who has ever seen Shawn live, you know she does covers better than anybody in the world. Always makes them her own and they are always as good as the original, sometimes much better. "Crazy" is one of those songs that, like everybody else, I thought was catchy and fun. It wasn't until she did it that I really listened to the lyrics. It's a killer song, lyrically. Probably never would've realized that without her version. If you don't have it, go buy it at iTunes or wherever you buy your downloads.
So, suffice to say, a fantastic night all around. For living in Austin she doesn't play here too often. Wish she would come out of hiding a bit more frequently. Oh well, we'll always take her whenever we can.
No photos or video at this place.
On this night she was doing 2 shows. We were at the early show and it lasted about 1 1/2 hours. We had $30 tickets (+$12 for service charge-how do you spell ripoff?) that were side stage, 3rd row. This place is tiny, 300 seats and is built so that no matter where you are sitting, you are close to the stage. Awesome venue! And sound!
We got the standards, "Trouble" and "Shotgun Down The Avalanche." During "Trouble" she morphed into the song she stole from to write it, Crowded House's "Private Universe." We also got some gems, "Steady On" and "A Matter of Minutes." She was definitely in a "Fat City" mood as we got "Polaroids" (the long version where in the middle she goes into all of the songs, about 6 of them, stolen to write that song!), "Tennessee," "Round of Blues" and "I Don't Know Why." We got "Window to the World" and "This Must Be The Place" from "Cover Girl." Also in the set were "Witchita Skyline" and "Fill Me Up."
The other covers she did were a stunning "That's The Way Love Goes," a Lefty Frizzel song made popular by Merle Haggard, "Crazy," the Gnarls Barkley tune and Tom Waits's "Hold On." As anybody who has ever seen Shawn live, you know she does covers better than anybody in the world. Always makes them her own and they are always as good as the original, sometimes much better. "Crazy" is one of those songs that, like everybody else, I thought was catchy and fun. It wasn't until she did it that I really listened to the lyrics. It's a killer song, lyrically. Probably never would've realized that without her version. If you don't have it, go buy it at iTunes or wherever you buy your downloads.
So, suffice to say, a fantastic night all around. For living in Austin she doesn't play here too often. Wish she would come out of hiding a bit more frequently. Oh well, we'll always take her whenever we can.
No photos or video at this place.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
UNPLUGGED at the PARAMOUNT featuring JOE ELY, BILLY JOE SHAVER, SLAID CLEAVES and AMY COOK
Won tickets to this through KUT. It was a charity event for the Livestrong Foundation. Pretty excited to win the tickets as you're talking some great artists on one stage. Song swap format.
Each musician played 4 songs, I think.
All played Billy Joe Shaver's "Live Forever" to close out the main set. That was spectacular.
Amy Cook opened with "Hotel Lights," a song off her soon to be released record that Alejandro Escovedo produced. I look for this to be her breakout year. I've seen her a couple of times over the last 5 years or so. She just gets better and better. That song, "Hotel Lights," in an erlier time, would be a big indie hit. Great song.
Slaid followed Amy. He's one of my favorites. One of the few guys from Maine, I'm guessing, who can yodel!
Then came Billy Joe. I had never seen him. What a character! He is seriously funny between songs, if you can understand him. Between his mumbling, rambling Texas twang, you gotta concentrate but it's worth it. He's written many great songs. It was a thrill to see him live.
Joe Ely was Joe. Just the greatest. If I had to say who defines the Texas style of great songwriting and sound, it would be Joe.
The show lasted about an hour and a half. It was not sold out or even close. Our seats were up in the nose bleeds but we were able to move way down. Sound was terrific. A Friday night spent listening to great songwriters. Pretty cool.
Each musician played 4 songs, I think.
All played Billy Joe Shaver's "Live Forever" to close out the main set. That was spectacular.
Amy Cook opened with "Hotel Lights," a song off her soon to be released record that Alejandro Escovedo produced. I look for this to be her breakout year. I've seen her a couple of times over the last 5 years or so. She just gets better and better. That song, "Hotel Lights," in an erlier time, would be a big indie hit. Great song.
Slaid followed Amy. He's one of my favorites. One of the few guys from Maine, I'm guessing, who can yodel!
Then came Billy Joe. I had never seen him. What a character! He is seriously funny between songs, if you can understand him. Between his mumbling, rambling Texas twang, you gotta concentrate but it's worth it. He's written many great songs. It was a thrill to see him live.
Joe Ely was Joe. Just the greatest. If I had to say who defines the Texas style of great songwriting and sound, it would be Joe.
The show lasted about an hour and a half. It was not sold out or even close. Our seats were up in the nose bleeds but we were able to move way down. Sound was terrific. A Friday night spent listening to great songwriters. Pretty cool.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
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