Patti Smith & Bettye LaVette

“In rendering rock songs, I also had to find myself in the stories. Lucinda Williams’ ‘Joy’ took on a slightly different lyrical form. Lucinda implied that she was looking for love; I was looking for Betty LaVette. Later, by the way, I got to meet Lucinda, whom I liked immensely. (She’s also one of the few women who can possibly outdrink me.)”
–from A Woman Like Me, memoir co-authored with David Ritz

Last night at West Hollywood’s The Troubadour, BL signed my copy after the show and made quite a fuss to her band standing around the merch table about the Little Honey t-shirt I was sporting. There’s talk she might cover “Knowing” someday, though I didn’t bring that up. I did mention having chatted with her briefly in Cleveland (right, Lafayette?) a few years back at the Joplin tribute.

This was my third visit to the Troubadour, first for Mike Stinson/Anne McCue/Dave Alvin (when my rental car was towed), second for N MIss. All Stars and Lu’s “surprise” cameo appearance in venue and eventually on stage. Public transit did me right last night. “Joy” was the sixth or so song, prefaced by the drinking anecdote but also by the phrase “immensely talented” to describe its writer; BL also included Lu in a phrase about covering “younger women” on that particular album. The Neil Young double just before “Joy” was superb too: a slow burn “Heart of Gold” and a rollicking “Everybody KNows this is Nowhere.”

I was impressed that the good folks from Book Soup in West Hollywood showed up to sell her book. Great evening all in all. . .

Oh yeah, Ms. Smith. Free instore at Amoeba Records. Six songs, three from the new record, also local favorite “Redondo Beach” from Horses. Lenny Kaye standing up and proud, stage left. I must say PS didn’t bat an eye at my shirtwear when I had my three seconds of signing time, nor did I get to name drop Rosemary Carroll, Lu’s longtime attorney also credited in the Smith liner notes I was clutching. But fine stuff nonetheless. I was slated to be in Ventura for a McNally/LaVere (note first four letters of surname) show which . . . never happened. There’s Joshua Tree and Santa Monica for that, though.

Grumpy, how was Byrne in S Barb?