tonyg

2 cruise ships, Mr. S. Lu is doing 2 of them. Ahoy! 😆

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All Eyes Media :: alleyesmedia.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OCTOBER 2015

LUCINDA WILLIAMS PUSHES
ARTISTIC BOUNDARIES ON
THE THEMATIC
THE GHOSTS OF HIGHWAY 20
OUT FEBRUARY 5

ALBUM INSPIRED BY LIFELONG
EXPERIENCES VIA CITIES AND TOWNS
ALONG THE SOUTHERN HIGHWAY

Nashville, TN – Three-time Grammy Award winner Lucinda Williams returns on February 5 with The Ghosts of Highway 20 (Highway 20/Thirty Tigers). After 11 highly acclaimed studio albums, Williams is in the most prolific period of her nearly four-decade career, as she continues to challenge herself creatively. The Ghosts of Highway 20 finds Williams exploring new territory personally, sonically and vocally like never before.

The Ghosts of Highway 20 is unlike any other Lucinda Williams album prior. There is a common thread running through the songs, uniting them under one collective theme as the haunting title track illustrates. 12 of the 14 songs were inspired by various periods and experiences throughout Williams’ life that all tie into Highway 20 (aka Interstate 20), which runs in part from Georgia to Texas, the focal region of the album. Whether it is cities she has resided in (Atlanta, GA, Macon, GA), has family ties to (Shreveport, LA, Monroe, LA) or previously written about (Jackson, LA, Vicksburg, MS), Williams’ personal experiences and connections to these areas inform the narratives. However, this is not an album about geographic locations, but songs and stories inspired by people, place and time.

The Ghosts of Highway 20 features some of the most expansive and experimental arrangements Williams has ever recorded, as heard on the epic “Dust”, the chilling “If My Love Could Kill” and “House of Earth”, a lost Woody Guthrie song Williams wrote the music to. Revered guitarists Bill Frisell and Greg Leisz provide incredible sonic textures and ethereal tones that enhance Williams’ brilliant writing and wise and weathered vocals. Williams expands her own vocal timbre with sultry jazz-styled phrasing on “I Know All About It” and the extensive improvisational track “Faith & Grace”. Williams puts her signature on a new interpretation of Bruce Springsteen’s “Factory”, and melts into the absolutely stunning “Louisiana Story” and “Place In My Heart”.

The Ghosts of Highway 20 was co-produced by Williams, Leisz and Tom Overby and recorded with Williams’ ace rhythm section of Butch Norton (drums) and David Sutton (bass). Guitarist Val McCallum guests on two tracks.

At 62, Lucinda Williams’ songs are as genuine and soulful as when she began writing. She defines the word artist by never compromising her music and staying true to her muse. On The Ghosts of Highway 20, Williams shows that her creative peak still lies ahead.

For more information about Lucinda Williams, please contact
Jim Flammia at All Eyes Media (615) 227-2770, jim@alleyesmedia.com
For more information, please contact Jim Flammia at (615) 227-2770 or jim@alleyesmedia.com :: alleyesmedia.com

Ahem. Begin the excitement phase, please. 8)

From Tom:
Well we managed to dodge the hurricane as did Virginia, that was close. Of course we had to put in I Envy The Wind tonight and it was a great version, as was Magnolia making its first appearance in some time. The NorVa is cool place to play-thanks to everyone who came out and braved the weather. Thanks also to the hospitable people at the venue—unfortunately the bar/restaurant next door, FM, was not quite as hospitable —however I must say the bouncer did his job exactly how it should be done. And that’s all we’ll say about that.

From the Tom:
In the comments on Facebook from the first night someone mentioned that as good as night 1 was, the 2nd may have topped it. I would say that is a pretty accurate assessment. It’s aways hard to say this night was better than that night etc., but occasionally their are shows that go to a different place -they just find a different level and this became one of those nights. Things started off right from the top with a real energy and Lu did another new song, If There’s A Heaven -it was solo and is a very personal song and you could’ve heard a pin drop. But shortly after that is where things started to hit a new gear. After starting Seeing Black she discovered that the second page of lyrics was missing in the lyric book (and its a song with a lot of words) and the song came to a grinding halt. The crowd completely came to her rescue and gave her a huge applause. The ice was now completely broken and it was off to the races as the whole band just…well something clearly had happened. After a scorching version of Come On she decided to go back and play Those 3 Days which was supposed to be earlier in the set. When she went back to find it, there was the second page of Seeing Black so after Those 3 Days she went back and played a ripping version of Seeing Black. From here it was pretty much pandemonium with Lu being very animated and eventually dancing with her guitar tech. By the time she came off for the encore the crowd was so loud she was having trouble hearing onstage. Two encores later it was all over. Over the past few years Atlanta has become one of Lu’s best markets and after the shouw Lu was talking about how much she loved the energy at the Variety (celebrating their 25th Anniversary) and how amazing and supportive the audience had been on a night when it all could have gone wrong. This was one for the ages.

From Tom:
Almost every night there very special moments, sometimes very little things sometimes more obvious. Tonight there was one very big one. It was the first time she had played the song Dust live, in fact it was the first time it had been played with Stuart and the band at all. It was recorded this summer and was one of the last songs recorded for the new record. It is another adaptation of one of her father, Miller’s poems, but not quite as literal. In addition Lucinda had family in the house, including Miller’s sister Marthel and her husband. Since it had never been rehearsed it was a bit of high wire moment but Lucinda really wanted to do it. Lu and the band just tore into like they had been playing it forever and when it was over Lucinda turned around and stepped back towards Butch and had tears in her eyes. While nothing quite as special as that there was another very cool moment in the encore durin the end of Hard Time Killin’ Floor Blues when Lu just kind of vamped and extended part and the band went right with her. Some of the other songs are changing slightly every night with some improvised parts -really great to see this band go to places that few can on a night to night basis.

I’ll wait for the video.