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@stoger wrote:
And “Sweet Side,” Viv–oh my.
Yes, that song breaks my heart into a billion pieces every time. “Your little tennis shoes and your pick-up sticks.”
As does ‘He Never Got Enough Love.’
The details in those songs are breathtakingly sad.
Thanks for the musings, as always. With respect to these five-in-a-row:
Seeing Black
Out of touch
Unsuffer me
Essence
AtonementHad I been there for the above, I likely would have levitated and left this realm.
@stoger wrote:
9 Lake Charles (the clyde woodward background is now completely off the map: the guy hocked her 12-string Martin guitar given to her by a Texan, the pawn shop subsequently burned. Related to this, Lu can’t find one of her Grammys. She also makes clear Blaze Foley was never one of her boyfriends, and that Tom in her life today has countered much of the above)
Even after all of these shows, we learned more about Lake Charles and Clyde in Seattle! Lu started her above aside by saying, “Boy, can I pick ’em!” and ended it on the hopeful note, “So, don’t give up!” The Texan who gave her the guitar was a musician, whom it seemed she didn’t want to name from the stage ❓ … This anonymous musician gave the guitar to her on the condition that she not sell or give it away (which she technically didn’t do since Clyde was the one who hocked it).
I, too, am amazed at how Lu’s songs can apply to such different situations than the one they were written about. The song “Walk On” is so apropos for the marchers, and I listened to it before I walked onto a stage to give a public lecture earlier this month. It even helped me before job interview this last week. As I recall, Lu originally wrote it as a “letter” of sorts to her younger self. “Everything But The Truth” is another song that feels weirdly topical.
Her songs speak to all of us, that’s for sure. She channels the human condition…
” Everything But the Truth” warranted every single exclamation point. I hope to hear it live one day.
“The genius at work, who knows her way around the darkest edges of the human heart…” Thanks, Lafayette! You always find the good stuff!
Thanks for the set list post, stoger! I was without reasonable internet access as I refused to pay the extortionist wifi fees at my hotel. A few thoughts:
* I loved Lu’s words to open the show, that it was a “heavy night” and she was glad to be at the show because otherwise she “would be sitting in a bar somewhere, but instead WE’RE GONNA F*CKIN’ ROCK!!” And that she did.
* “You Can’t Rule Me” to open was perfection.
* Something was up during the beginning of the set, with Justin and Victor out trying to address some issue for Lu.
* I love love love that Lu is playing the Rose Guitar now!!
* Unsuffer Me –> Essence –> Atonement. This is the ultimate three-in-a-row.
* After Essence, Lu told the audience that “Your presence is a gift.” It was totally mutual.
Wonderful end to a surreal day.
I couldn’t believe GOH20 wasn’t nominated for Best Americana Album. Especially (and no disrespect intended) in light of the actual nominees. Maybe the Grammys just don’t have it together yet in this relatively new award category.
Well, this was another special Lu evening. The show started with Amos doing a solo, acoustic song and then The Record Company took the stage and set the place on fire. I will definitely see them any chance I get. Corinne Bailey Rae delivered a beautiful, soulful set — an angel in a purple velvet jumpsuit– and then Lucinda took the stage.
– Lu solo for Ghosts of Highway 20 (“These towns haven’t changed; still a little bit of dirt mixed with tears…”) Heartbreaking, as always.
– Stuart joins for a “song that is relevant for these times”: World Without Tears. Tender and moving, yet a protest song.
– Lake Charles, “a song that makes it way into the set night after night”… and we are glad that it does.
– Amos joins Lu for Little Angel, Little Brother. These two have a mutual admiration society. They would be enjoying a duet together even if it were just the two of them in a living room… no audience required. Really special to witness this connection.
– Just Lu and Stu for Honey Bee! I understand that Lu and Stu have done this as a duo before, but this may be the first time Lu does it acoustic! Missed Butch, but a great rendition of this stompin’ song!
– Lu mentions Bob Dylan’s Nobel prize and says “Bless his heart”… love! Then launches into Foolishness, saying, “This goes out to all y’all!”, which is, of course, the grammatically correct plural of “y’all.” She brings the house down with “don’t need no Donald Trump in my life.”Thus ends Lu’s set, but during Amos’s set, he “gloats” on Lu and says that she is “so real, so raw, and always gives everything she has.” Damn straight, that’s our Lu. The mutual admiration society continues with (wait for it)… I Envy the Wind. Amos owns this one as much as Lu. Afterwards, much love transpires, with a big hug between Lu and Amos.
Fantastic evening. Love to Lafayette for sharing it with me (and purchasing our fab tickets!!). xo, Viv
The “Year in Music” piece in the December 2016/January 2017 issue of Garden & Gun rightfully declares The Ghosts of Highway 20 as its Album of the Year:
“Lucinda Williams released her latest epic way back in February, which seems like a billion years ago. But it’s an album that continues to reveal its lyrical nooks and crannies and her most personal record to date (and that’s saying something). Williams’s unparalleled storytelling resonates as her voice groans with weariness and reflection on ‘Death Came’ and ‘If There’s a Heaven,’ seethes with contempt on ‘Dust,’ and soothes on the touching ‘Place in my Heart.’ The renowned Bill Frisell is the lights-out guest instrumentalist, filling her songs with shimmering guitar. Though it’s heavy-duty stuff, no one but Williams can make heartache and longing so compelling.”
I don’t really agree with the review’s descriptions of the emotions conjured by specific songs (“seethes with contempt on ‘Dust'”??), but we all have our own personal relationships with Lu’s songs. 🙂
Thanks, Tom. This year and always, I am thankful for the gift of Lu’s songs and music. Lafayette and I will be at the Amos Lee NYC event next week and I’m looking forward to Lu’s west coast and FL tours in the New Year. I hope this post finds all the Friendly Forum members in happy food comas throughout the land 🙂
Yes, Highway20 worked, and DUST was one of the passwords for Portland (so may want to try this at other venues as well if Highway20 doesn’t work). Fillmore (x2), Portland (x2) and then SEATTLE, my hometown, baby! The very first time I ever saw Lucinda was in Seattle at the Paramount — we were both just babies then 🙂 Something to look forward to after the New Year!
