Red Rocks show Aug. 3rd

..and I’ve seen Lucinda since 1998 (with Bob Dylan & Van Morrison!) and probably between 40-50 times.

Underwhelmed saw a completely different show than I. But I do not begrudge him his views, he simply doesn’t get it.

There were plenty of younger folks (i.e. 70 shows in a lifetime or less) who grew restless with the first half of Lu’s set which relied heavily on the more mellow material. I did not hear any boos, though I did hear younger voices yelling out for ‘guitar solos!’ and ‘jam a bit’, that sort of thing.

I went to the show because I’ve also followed Ryan Adams and the Old 97s since the late 90s and thought this to be a dream billing. And for me – It was! (aside from the Old 97s debacle…they were _much_ better the next night in Aspen). I know that there were plenty of others, like myself, who loved the show – particularly the sets by Lucinda and Ryan Adams.

But something that I have to admit at the age of 33 is that most of the folks at Red Rocks hadn’t been following Lucinda & Ryan Adams closely and fanatically like myself since 1998. Most of the crowd was there to see their first or third Ryan Adams show and were also turning out to see the new band Devotchka. Good on them! Certainly many worse things for the youth of America to be doing with their time, even if they ended up painfully bored during Lucinda. Still beats an x-box or some angst-filled scream-fest in my humble opinion.

As for the wisdom of showing up to the Lucinda Williams Forum and trying to shove his views down our collective throats….well, I can’t really begrudge him that either. When I only had 70 shows under my belt, I thought I knew absolutely everything there was to know too. I certainly had my moments of pride where I demanded to know why a particular band/artist didn’t float my boat…and I likely thought I had all the answers to why. But now I know that there aren’t really any answers…just moments….and Underwhelmed, myself, and 7,000 of our closest friends shared one this past Friday at Red Rocks.

We all know how Underwhelmed saw the show…..and I humbly offer that the show he saw was refracted from the opposite side of the prism than mine. Lucinda was in wonderful spirits, the band was on fire, they played a good 15-20 minutes longer than I’d hoped for, and (if you are into this type of thing) it was a spectacular success.

Thanks for the perspective Underwhelmed, I trust when you revisit your remarks when you have 70, 140, or 210 more shows under your belt you will realize how far you have come.

Speaking of how far one has come…this was my first show at Red Rocks since my FIRST CONCERT EVER back in 1983. ZZ Top/Quiet Riot….
Hundreds and Hundreds and Hundreds of shows since then, and I wouldn’t ever change a thing on any of them. Particularly the ones I thought were dawgs….builds character. I think Lu would agree.

Peace, Love, & Revolution,

.25

i created my profile for the sole purpose of venting on how much i hated lucinda at red rocks. It doesn’t help that devotchka was on before her who sucked and played for way too long. And then you had ryan adams after her who is amazing and blew everyone else out of the water. but it looked like she just woke up and was forced on stage. she sang like nails on a chalkboard. She looked gross, her song honeybee was a slap in the face considering a 1st grader could’ve written it. fuck her. she sucked major balls.

but an ass too-

thanks for venting your anger AT US-how lovely!now take your meds-id suggest zoloff.you saw an excellent ryan adams gig and lu and devotchka sucked and that pissed you off soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much you gotta come here and vent? cause we like her?

you got lucky and saw 1 of the few “fantastic” ryan adams gigs in like a year.
RA’s about as consistant a live performer as cat power used to be.

yes cat’s back on top of things and doing good lately, as per ryan, think the jury’s still out though.great writer.no doubt bout that.

musta been a real f’d nite cause ive heard nuttin but great things about the O97’s live too.

lu looked gross?are you sure YOU dont wanna fuck her? if she was fat and nasty and unkempt would she be less musical?youre quite superficial.

again still dont get that yelling “fuckheads” at the congregation.such a childish act.no matter what name you create to do it.what a waste of talents.just dont get accentuating the positive in life do you?

and sorry for feeding trolls lefty,but trolls shoulda been taught manners by they mamas and daddys(if’n they had one)too.

back to the mets game.atlanta’s bitchslappin us…think ill go moan about it on the braves message board…….
btr/ny-fng-c-

Being a fairly new Lu fan, I want to weigh in. I have been listening to Lu for about the past three years and saw my first show this year. Granted she may not be the GREATEST live performer, but her songwriting and the raw emotion in her voice is unbelievable.

I was once a performer and I have read about Lu being more nervous in her earlier performing days. I think having the lyric book on stage with her is like a comfort. That’s how I would feel about it if I were her. And damn. She’s 54 and tours like crazy. I’d need a drink or two and that lyric book to remember.

She used the lyric book for about the first ten minutes at the show in Memphis. It was always turned to the current song but she didn’t need it. I have become such a fan that I’m headed to NYC to see her.

Peace Love and Revolution, LU!

I have been a fan of Lucinda since ’89 following her first, self-titled album came out. Saw her at the Fillmore (West) when she was an add-on opener for the first Cowboy Junkies US tour. She did a duet thing with Gurf and I was thrilled – definitely on the raw side but good and very emotive.

I have seen her many times since then – pretty much every time she has played in and around San Francisco, usually once a year. She has used the lyric book for many years now – who cares. After several albums, she probably needs a prompt for the lyrics. Some people have bad memories and I think she is the type of person who feels the song while performing and perhaps doesn’t want to be distracted by focusing on what lyrics come next.

Having seen/heard her many times over the years, I have to admit that some shows are “better” than others. She is a moody woman – sometimes she is up and other times, she is not in a good mood or is feeling “dark”. These emotions are expressed in her shows.

All in all, I think she is a remarkable artist. Her lyrics are honed down to their simplest expressions of feelings, meesage and sense of place. I am a big reader and a lover of a well crafted song. Lucinda does this time after time. Some songs move me more than others – but that is only natural. And it does depend on my mood, too.

I wish I could attend all of these shows, in either LA or in NYC. Those that can, enjoy them!