I was trying to decide if I should “stay on track” or if I should derail this “train” of thought (I know, groan…but, I couldn’t resist) and go ahead and post something about “The Troubadour” show, which obviously, I have decided to do.
When I was planning for this trip, sticking around for this show was something that always was in my mind, I just wasn’t sure if it would work out. Fortunately, the moon and stars aligned and I made it.
I wanted to go for several reasons; one was the legendary status of the club (see for yourself @ http://www.troubadour.com/history/). Second, was I felt that if Joe Henry and/or Lucinda Williams were ever going to do a “drop in” appearance, since they both live in LA, this would be it.
I headed over to the club in the early afternoon with the band and helped with the load in, wandered around the neighborhood a bit, crossed into Beverly Hills (just across the street from the club, and never saw any swimmin’ pools or movie stars) and grabbed a bite to eat. Around 6:30PM, I was sitting at the bar talking to Lucy (Wainwright Roche) when a nicely dressed bearded man knocked on the window and Lucy popped off the barstool with a “There’s My Dad!” she pushed open the door and the legend himself, Loudon Wainwright III walked in.
Lucy did the intro’s, I tried not to gush and make a fool of myself.
I knew that he was coming to sing with Lucy, but I never really imagined standing face to face with him and chatting. He was very gracious and funny and seemed to be enjoying the opportunity to play with his daughter. After a few minutes, he said, “you want to run through it, I’ve got dinner reservations at 7:30” and Lucy said “sure.”
They sat down and started playing the incredibly beautiful “You Can’t Fail Me Now.” Me, a friend of Lucy’s from Brooklyn and the two of them sitting there playing. It was stunning, I was blown away at the beauty, emotion and intimacy of what I just heard and was thinking “Wow, I’m not sure how I got here, but what a moment to be in the right place at the right time.” Loudon looked at Lucy and said, “Let’s do it one more time.” I never moved.
He was having such a good time, they decided to do a second song, the touching and funny (and true) “Family Tree.”
I had known for a couple of days about the surprises and that my hopes and suspicions for OtR’s set, were in fact, going to happen. Both of them. One of the reasons I wanted to go early was to see the stage set-up and try to stake out positions to shoot.
So, five songs in, Karin went into a discussion about someone who’s music had meant a lot to her, which led into the introduction of Lucinda Williams, Lucinda came out quietly to huge applause and after sharing some mutual, sincere praise and love for each other (Linford: “Lucinda reminds me that I ain’t dead yet”), they launched into a stirring version of “Undamned” (which Lucinda sang with Karin on “The Long Surrender”), it was quiet and achingly beautiful. The feel and vibe was perfect and it sounded great. Afterwards, as they say, the crowd went wild.
Three songs later, surprise number two of the set, three of the evening, was introduced; “the proud papa” of “the Long Surrender,” Joe Henry was introduced. He joined them for “The Sharpest Blade” that he wrote the lyrics for and Karin wrote the melody, they followed that with his song, the incredible “the Man I Keep Hid,” from his album, “Blood From Stars.” Joe has a quiet intensity about him that is hard to describe, he is very low key and unassuming, yet once he starts singing/playing, there is no doubt that he is putting every fiber in his body into every note of every song.
There is definitely a common thread, an unspoken spiritual, musical vibe between Karin, Linford and Joe that is undeniable. It’s obvious on the record and even moreso on stage.
With most bands, continuing a set after two appearances like that would be a challenge. Nope, not this band, this night. In fact, they were energized and continued to pick up steam.
I had huge expectations due to the venue and surprises, expectations that had they just been met would have made for an amazing night. They were not met, they were not exceeded, they were completely blown out of the water. The night was light-hearted yet intense, reverent and steamy, quiet and rocking. It was everything. It was perfect.
And, if all that wasn’t enough, I got to hang out and chat with Lucinda for quite a while after the show. She absolutely loves Karin and Linford and you just got the feel that she didn’t want to leave. She was such a sweetheart, kind, funny and generous.
Lucinda: “I feel like I know you…”
Me: “Lucinda, I can assure you that we have never met, because, trust me…if we had, I would remember it.”
Lucinda: (with that wonderful drawl) “Aww honey, you don’t have to meet someone to know ‘em.” (then she gave me a hug)
Yeah, the night was that good.
what we need is music 