Got a tip? Send it our way
Share your music news — big or small — with the Austin360.com team by sending us an e-mail.
Home > Austin Music Source > Archives > 2009 > November > 24 > Entry
Live review: Lyle Lovett at Bass Concert Hall
In an interview in June Lyle Lovett mused on the tendency of critics, music industry types and even some fans to label him a country artist, when there’s really no accurate categorization for the stylistically borderless music the Houston native creates.
“I guess it’s because sometimes I wear a cowboy hat in pictures,” Lovett wryly answered of this reporter’s question. Maybe, but after seeing Lovett put on a stellar clinic of mid-20th century song Monday at Bass Concert Hall another theory emerges; better than any artist out there today Lovett takes styles from bop jazz to gospel, R&B and early rock ‘n’ roll (and at least a half dozen others) and refracts them through a prism of Texas plains country music twang, enhancing it all in the process.
Written out that sounds terribly dry and academic, but the other key to Lovett’s three decades of success is the enthusiasm and appreciation for all music that flows from his weathered, crisp croon and made every note in the 2 1/2-hour performance crackle with energy.
Starting the night in a quartet setup for “Sun And Moon And Stars,” Lovett’s accompaniment grew to the full 10 piece strength of The Large band after a cover of Eric Taylor’s “Whooping Crane” and transition into “Farmer Brown/Chicken Reel” and its sophomoric use of the line “choke my chicken.”
“The lights kicked up on that last one and, looking out at you all, I see you’re respectable looking folks and there’s no need for what we did on that last song,” Lovett jokingly apologized at song’s end. Monday’s show featured plenty of asides with the crowd between songs, focusing on everything from shows and performers in Austin that influenced Lovett (Don Sanders, Ry Cooder, Uncle Walt’s Band, Robert Earl Keen among them) to a theory on why male bluegrass quartets never last long (“You’ve got four guys singing around a microphone with their mouths really close together. Kinda tells you something about the ones that stay together.”)
The songs, though, were the focal point and the versatility of Lovett and the Large Band made it hard to pick out highlights. “I Will Rise Up/Ain’t No More Cane” was simply powerful thanks to help from a quartet of L.A. by way of Detroit backup singers, “L.A. County” and “If I Had A Boat” were vibrant studies in painting pictures through word economy, and a cover of jazz standard “Baby It’s Cold Outside” found Lovett abandoning any trace of country thanks to guest vocalist and Austinite, Kat Edmonson.
Throughout the night Lovett recognized his musicians after solo takes, often thanking them for close to 30 years of musical partnership. Those were the individual members’ chances to get some spotlight on them, but on rousing numbers such as “Up In Indiana” or the show-closing spiritual “Church” it was the collective energy of the whole band combined with Lovett’s special musical alchemy that gave them the best chance to shine.
Not a note wasted. Not a phrase out of place. Just about perfect.
Set list: “Sun And Moon And Stars,” “Whooping Crane,” “Farmer Brown/Chicken Reel,” “It’s Rock And Roll” (w/ Lance Armstrong), “Here I Am,” “I Will Rise Up/Ain’t No More Cane,” “Penguins,” “Cute As A Bug,” “Empty Blue Shoes,” “Bohemia,” “No Big Deal,” “Baby It’s Cold Outside” (w/ Kat Edmonson), “The Truck Song,” “L.A. County,” “Natural Forces,” “Loretta,” “Pantry,” “Up In Indiana,” “If I Had A Boat,” “I’ve Been To Memphis,” “My Baby Don’t Tolerate,” “That’s Right (You’re Not From Texas),” “Ain’t No More Cane (reprise),” “What Do You Do,” “Church”
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment Categories: Music
Comments
Austinites love to be heard, and we're giving you a bullhorn. We just ask that you keep things civil. Leave out the personal attacks. Do not use profanity, ethnic or racial slurs, or take shots at anyone's sexual orientation or religion. If you can't be nice, we reserve the right to remove your material and ban users who violate our Visitor's agreement. Click here to report comment abuse.
By Adriana
November 24, 2009 8:37 AM | Link to this
Great review, Chad, I couldn’t have said it better myself! One quick note: Between “Whooping Crane” and “Farmer Brown” the band did an instrumental called “The Blues Walk” from the album “Lyle Lovett and his Large Band”.
By Becky
November 24, 2009 12:36 PM | Link to this
Great review. The show was excellent. I loved the variety. I have seen him many times, I believe this was my favorite show. Hey, can you tell me the name of the tall backup singer? So glad I went!
By NETW
November 24, 2009 1:47 PM | Link to this
I’m going to the show tonight. Am really looking forward to it. Love the new CD, but glad to see he’s doing some of the older songs, too.
By michael hutchings
November 24, 2009 6:21 PM | Link to this
pure TEXAS; and you dont get much better than that because what you saw was the man in his element doing what he loves—we are richer for him being who he is
By Kelly
November 24, 2009 10:49 PM | Link to this
Becky - The backup singer is Arnold McCuller
By David
November 25, 2009 3:55 PM | Link to this
Great review and an even better show!! Lyle’s unique “Genre confusion” seems to be what makes him special. Anyone pegged into a particular scene would be hard pressed to cover so much variety without being labelled ADD. For whatever reason, the Leeroy Parnell’s, Lyle Lovett’s, Monte Montgomery’s and many others who seem to sit vibrantly in between the classic genres are the unsung heroes of a Texas music culture. I only hope they can continue to prosper and force change to the music machine. Once again, well done Lyle.
By Mike McCarthy
November 26, 2009 10:52 PM | Link to this
David,
I would add the late Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown to your list. Labelled a bluesman, he always insisted he made “American Music, Texas Style”.
As a Brit, coming from a place with a lot of musical history, I still have to concede top spot to you Texans for the place with the greatest diversity of great music on the planet. From Scott Joplin to Kinky Friedman, you guys have it covered. I wish I’d been at that gig.
By scott reeves
December 11, 2009 2:02 AM | Link to this
I WENT TO BOTH SHOWS AND LYLE AND HIS LARGE BAND WERE AMAZING!I COULD LISTEN TO LYLE SING ALL NIGHT LONG.WHAT A FIRST CLASS GENTLEMAN AND PERFORMER.BASS PERFORMANCE HALL FORT WORTH IS A BREATHTAKING VENUE WITH GREAT ACOUSTICS.THANKS LYLE FOR MENTIONING SCOTT REEVES FROM BATON ROUGE,LA.LOUISIANA WANTS YOU VERY MUCH,WE MISS YOU!