Red Rocks!

Stoger has annointed me with the honor of reporting on Red Rocks. First of all, I am shaking I am so happy with this show. Lucinda opened for Isbell and received much love from the crowd. I hope she felt it. Travis was the consummate gentleman and graciously escorted Lu to and from the stage. She said that everyone wants her to sit down, but she wasn’t having it. She noted that Butch needs to see her standing up and grooving because it helps him play better… haha. Here is the setlist:

Steal Your Love
Protection
Bad News Blues
Drunken Angel
Are You Down
You Can’t Rule Me
Out of Touch
[Lu says she wants to play a David Bryne tune, and there was some confusion about what the next song was, and Lu noted “What would Dylan Do?”]
Ultimately they play Take Me to the River [Talking Heads, but as Stoger noted, written by Al Green]. Lu as always OWNS and transforms the covers she chooses.
Change the Locks
Righteously

Lu’s voice was magnificent and did justice to the acoustically perfect venue. I can’t express how fantastic it was to be at a real show again. Lu was my last show before the pandemic shut everything down (Charlotte, NC on Jan 25, 2020), so it is fitting that Lu was my first REAL show in the aftermath (Stoger and I were at Isbell in Boone, NC in mid-July, but it was a distanced show and we were all tipping our toes back into live music; it was Jason’s first post-pandemic show). I had tickets to Lu’s shows at City Winery Nashville in Oct/Nov 2020, but I lost my nerve and didn’t go 🙁

Jason highlighted his respect and affection for Lu, noting that he aspires to her level of songwriting. In my humble opinion, Red Rocks tonight showcased the two greatest living songwriters. I like that Isbell knows his place regarding Lu and lyrical genius. Jason had sparkly sneakers — just must note this. I also must note that Isbell and Sadler LAID DOWN THE SICKNESS when they closed with Never Gonna Change. Also, his 1959 Les Paul “Red Eye” made an appearance… I don’t know the whole story and am too tired to google it now, but his Red Eye guitar was previously owned by the original Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist, and whereas Sweet Home Alabama wasn’t technically composed on it, the owner wrote Sweet Home Alabama at the time he owned it — close enough to greatness. Tremendous guitar and Jason obviously reveres it.

I hope Lu felt the love and was as happy this evening as she made those of us who were lucky enough to be there. She was gloriously, overwhelmingly, wickedly awesome, per usual.

Peace, love, and revolution. Viv