stellablueee

Saturday, November 22, 2008
Lucinda Williams lets her songs tell the stories
Acclaimed singer-songwriter serves strong set at the Wiltern on Friday
By PETER LARSEN

The last time Lucinda Williams came through town it was to showcase five of her acclaimed albums over five nights, telling stories of their inspiration, the cast of musician pals who showed up to help her, and basically talking about anything else that came to mind from one night to the next.

Those shows at the El Rey Theatre a little over a year ago felt so laidback and casual it was almost as if our adored singer-songwriter friend had stopped by our living room to play a few songs, tell a few tales.

So as her show at the Wiltern on Friday got started – this, the last stop on a two-month tour in support of her new “Little Honey” CD – it felt as first as if she wasn’t giving us everything we expected.

Wait a sec, you mean you’re not gonna talk about the guy who inspired your “Real Love?” Or the other one who’s about to mess it up in “Little Rock Star?”

But as the power of the songs starts to set in, you realize that in Williams’ lyrics and music you’ve got all the stories you need, and hopefully the imagination and the heart to fill in the rest.

And for 19 songs drawn from throughout her career and her influences, Williams delivered yet another strong show – so what if it was a little more of a formal concert than the last ones, you can’t go wrong with music this rewarding.

Opening with “I Just Wanted To See You So Bad,” Williams and her always sharp backing band– now going by the name Buick Six – gave a nod to the 1988 self-titled album that set her on her way to becoming the queen of Americana roots rock.

After “Happy Woman Blues,” which stepped even further back into her catalog, to when she started out as a more traditional folk-blues artist, Williams dipped into the new CD for “Tears Of Joy,” the first of six new tunes she played.

A mini-set of songs from breakout album “Car Wheels On A Gravel Road” included the always moving “Metal Firecracker,” with guitarist Doug Pettibone’s lyrical guitar lines bookending Williams’ world-weary vocals.

Coming back to the “Little Honey” material, power-pop hero Matthew Sweet and former Bangles’ singer Susanna Hoffs came out to add backing vocals to “Real Love” and “Little Rock Star.” (The pair, who played that role on the album, too, also joined Williams’ band, Buick 6, which opened the concert with an instrumental set, to cover Neil Young’s “Cinnamon Girl.”)

Both songs were standouts, “Real Love” rocking hard, “Little Rock Star” summoning up that sad, wistful quality of so much of Williams’ music, and afterwards, she seemed pleased with the performances.

“You lifted me up,” Williams said as Sweet and Hoffs hugged her and walked off stage. “You lifted things up a whole ‘nother lever here.”

The rest of the night flowed strongly, one song to the next. “Essence” delivered its tale of longing and desire with a sexy, almost ominous vibe. “Come On” took those same feelings and flipped them around to tell the guy she’d wanted so much in the earlier song to more or less get lost. “Changed The Locks” took the storyline even further – no way he’s finding her now.

Williams introduced “Honey Bee,” a stomping sex-infused new one, as her current favorite to play, and after the speak-singing of “Righteously,” the main set ended, her adoring fans cheering wildly as she left the stage.

The encore offered a trio of covers, starting with Jimi Hendrix’s “Angel,” in tribute to the recent death of Hendrix drummer Mitch Mitchell.

Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” was part of the set throughout the fall as the presidential election unfolded, Williams said. “We’re still playing this song as a celebration and to remind everyone that the fight is just beginning,” she said.

And then – after saying she wanted to dedicate her final tune to President-elect Barack Obama – Williams ended the night with a cover of AC/DC’s “It’s A Long Way To The Top.”

That’s a sentiment that certainly fits the times and our new president, but to see and hear Williams reaching new peaks after being at it this long, sums up her own outstanding career just as well.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/lucinda-williams-little-2237934-honey-wiltern

Those who went are lucky folks I’d say . . .

can i get an amen!

this is part of an email sent to me from a girl that’s been seeing lucinda since the late 80’s

“She was great on Sunday. In a good mood and having fun. It’s been a while since I have experienced her having such a great time. The band was great! They opened up for about an hour of all (but 1)instrumentals. They played Led Zeppelin’s Black Dog and I was transported (in the beginning) to 1969 when I saw (zeppelin) them in ’69. Pettibone is so great!! “

so guess it’s subjective….even without a recession, sunday/monday shows don’t usually sell all that well.
another possibility are the other shows in town that night…….like this friday when lucinda plays the wiltern, there are lots of people going to house of blues to hear aretha franklin/just the way it goes sometimes.

the comment about staying home and starting a family was just lame and rude. i’d expect better from someone “who loves lucinda”
maybe the wife and girlfriend are gettin’ to ya? hahahaha

lucinda phoning it in is better then most acts out their on their best night.
as one who followed the dead around, hoping for the one great show in 10, i’m not giving up on lucinda. she deserves better from me.

just my two “sense”, and if you want to call me a “cheerleader” then so be it. maybe i just look at the bright side of life (cue Life of Brian music)

greg won’t be at the other shows

uh, long story short, i didn’t go………yeah, last weekend sucked. the water heater went out friday/was replaced and leaked by saturday. all’s well now tho……
i was told it was good tho/dave never disappoints…..hoping nothing comes up to prevent me from hearing kathleen edwards/john doe this thurs at the el rey.
thanks for asking!
lisa

saturday night’s setlist

1st set:
Wavelength
St. Dominic’s Preview
Caravan
It’s All In The Game > You Know What They’re Writing About
Here Comes The Night
And The Healing Has Begun
Summertime In England
Brown Eyed Girl
Gloria

2nd set:
Astral Weeks
Beside You
Slim Slow Slider
Sweet Thing
The Way Young Lovers Do
Cyprus Avenue
Ballerina
Madame George
Listen To The Lion (Encore)

yay paul, glad you went to that show, i hope she’s still going to do those two songs in california!
lisa

wonder how things would have changed if pop staples would have given his blessing on a mavis/bob dylan marriage…..besides no sara or sad eyed lady of the lowlands………

thanks lefty & tim!
lisa

this is a pretty cool auction/i’m sticking it here for anyone who ventures here

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/147104-arcade-fire-coldplay-bruce-rem-wilco-modest-mouse-interpol-feist-obama-do-rock-for-kids-auction

http://www.rockforkids.org/RockAuction2008/