lola

some pictures of performers – not just Lucinda – at the BBBF
http://www.theage.com.au/national/moshpit-20120412-1wsrd.html

Lucinda is there, but the http is too long and doesn’t work.

Cheers
Lola

Hi
As promised, a review of the Blues Fest gigs. First up, the Bluesfest is not the greatest venue at night – lots of alcohol has been drunk and the annoying people are out and about. The tents are dark and cold, the cool night air can really affect a perfomers voice.
Lucinda was on very late at night, the headline act on two nights. There is no opportunity to do a sound check, and it seems to me that performers wait around for a loooong time to do their show. Lucinda was on at the same time as Cold Chisel -an iconic Aussie band the first night and John Fogerty the second.

The first night, Lucinda seemed a little reticent at first, but warmed up and gave a rocking good show. I had to leave before the end due to transport set up.
The second night was even later, and I was feeling the four days of standing on my feet and staying up late – hey, I’m old. Lucinda was frustrated by the earpiece not working, and no one seemed to be able fix it. There was a different energy the second time, it was hard to define (I am not a professional at this), maybe it was due to John Fogerty, and I suspect Lucinda would rather have been there watching him than performing herself.
Steve Earle came and played two songs with Lucinda, and that really kicked things around. Her voice was the way it sounds on records – a life lived and loves lost, bourbon drunk and loves found. No, she didn’t sing my favourite song, but thats what records are for.
Two guys nearly got into a punch up over a song list, but a good friend who works on the Bluesfest got one for me, hoowee! It’s unsigned, but I know where it’s from. Lucinda was willing to sign it, but the tour manager was being protective of his charge. Fair enough, it is his job.

I have read some of the reviews which I think are a little unfair, when they comment on her using a songbook. Lucinda WIlliams has a huge body of work, I don’t expect any musician to have perfect recall – most Australians don’t even know the second verse of our national anthem! Her interaction with the crowd is not about what we want, she is a performer, not our friend. You want warm and fuzzy, call your mother. Don’t call mine, she never managed that. 😆
All in all, I am glad I made the effort, and I enjoyed every show.
Thanks for making the trip down here, I hope it was worth it to you Lucinda and Crew.
Cheers
Lola

I went to the Melbourne show last night. WOW. I was so impressed by the absolute musicianship of the whole show.
No one on stage was there for their own ego, they were there because they love what they do. This showed so clearly in the music, and their perfomances were joyful, soulful and so fine.
The songlist included many favourites, some new/old songs, and showed the great depth of Lucinda’s songwriting, her ability to reinterpret classic songs and her love of music, history and her connectedness. I’m not sure how long the performance went for – I got so lost in the music, and no, I don’t have a song list memorised for the show.(edit – Tom Overby has posted one, while I was writing this! See his post in Melbourne 4/2) It was like a journey through life, with all the complexities, the beauty and the sorrow. Lucinda Williams writes like no other, and she notices so much of what we take for granted, she holds these things up to us and says look at how amazing this image is, she paints with words, and she paints such honesty with her words. Sometimes her lyrics can make you a little uncomfortable, and that is a good thing – complacency is another word for mediocrity.
It rained hard at the end of some great blues, as if the weather in Melbourne was saying Hey, I like your blues to Lucinda.The venue was the Palais Theatre, which has great acoustics, and the mix last night took full advantage of these.
http://www.palaistheatre.net.au/history.htm

Lucinda, you were amazing, as was your band. And yes, we know about lovable losers here too, I am a Tigers supporter 😆
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond_Football_Club
I am off to Byron on Thursday for the Bluesfest, so I will see Lucinda and the band again. I will write more then.

Poor you, I am so sorry to hear that Adelaide and Brisbane miss out. The Blues fest is a special day, are you sure you can’t make it down to Byron?
I am heading up there from Melbourne, so I get two concerts this time. Last time we were in rural NSW, 7 hours west of everywhere, so I am making up for it this year.

Can’t wait 😛