Atlanta Journal-Constitution

I don’t recall this write-up as previously posted:

http://www.ajc.com/services/content/2009/02/22/lucinda0222.html

MUSIC
Williams reveals her happier side

By Rodney Ho

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Lucinda Williams’ fans know her best for her darker, more heartbreaking tunes focused on broken relationships, broken trust and broken spirits.

So it’s a bit jarring to hear her latest album, “Little Honey.” In it, the folk-country-rock artist sings about her fiance and co-producer, Tom Overby, in jubilant tunes such as “Tears of Joy” and the rollicking, randy “Honey Bee.”

“People are dubbing this my happy record,” Williams said recently by phone from her home in Los Angeles. Her show comes to the Tabernacle on Saturday. “People know I’m in a good place, and they connect with that.”

But the three-time Grammy winner can still get her hackles up. When some critics said that the lyrics of “Honey Bee” were not up to her lofty standards, she told them they “need to get their collective heads out of their collective” you know what.

“I’m surprised,” she said, about the negative feedback. “But look, not every song has to be a narrative masterpiece. You have to have fun sometimes. It was a frisky, sexy song for Tom.”

Sample lyrics: “Oh my little honey bee/ I’m so glad you stung me/ Now I’ve got your honey/ All over my tummy.”

Here’s her take on a few other subjects:

> On living in Los Angeles vs. Nashville: “It’s bigger. There’s more going on. It’s more than just about straight country music that’s radio-oriented. There’s more of an edge here, more variety.”

> On country radio: “The coolest stuff is on Sirius satellite radio. They’ve taken over for what used to be cool FM radio stations. There are a few college radio stations, too, but really, I don’t pay much attention to the commercial stuff. There’s other music I’d rather listen to.”

> On the record itself: “It has its happy moments, but it’s still fraught with pain and despair and the rest of it.”

> On covering the AC/DC classic “It’s a Long Way to the Top”: “It was Tom’s idea. I really have come to appreciate them over the years. You’d be surprised by some of the bands I like: Tool, Audioslave. Love that one album!”

> Her reaction when told the service charge on her $27.50 tickets at the Tabernacle was nearly half the face value of the ticket itself: “That’s ridiculous. Insane! I’ve heard some musicians trying to protest this Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger, but I’m not sure it’s even organized. Those two companies govern everything!”

> On performing last year at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens: “The audience was across from this little pond. There were frogs on lily pads. That was a little strange!”

IF YOU GO

Lucinda Williams, 8 p.m. Saturday at the Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St. $27.50. www.livenation.com, 404-659-9022