*Lyle Lovett & His Large Band @ State Theater (Ithaca)/11.11.09
Sometimes, when least expected, a show can wildly exceed expectations. That was the case when I first saw Lyle Lovett in concert.
I had some experience with Lovett, having heard his excellent covers compilation Step Inside This House (on which he covers his favorite Texan songwriters, including Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark) through a friend in the late 90’s and had heard the hits, such as If I Had A Boat, but in no way was I prepared for the live Lyle Lovett experience.
Lovett and John Hiatt hit the State Theater of Ithaca in February of 2008 for an acoustic show in which the two songwriters shared the stage. With songs and stories the two captivated the audience for hours and demonstrated just how effective and powerful the simple combination of an acoustic guitar and voice can be. Lovett certainly has a good voice on record, but in concert his voice reaches another level. Clean and full, it fills the room and commands attention.
Expecting to enjoy my first Lovett show and leaving awed made his return to the State this November a can’t miss concert of the fall season.
Lovett’s second appearance in Ithaca started in similar fashion as he opened the show with a pair of quieter, acoustic songs, Whooping Crane and Sun And Moon And Stars, two covers from his 2009 release Natural Forces. For this show, however, Lovett was armed with much more than an acoustic guitar as he brought along his Large Band. After the peaceful introductory numbers, the Large Band (of 13 members) kicked into their Blues Walk and put the show onto a new trajectory and displayed a different kind of showmanship.
Each member of the Large Band, from percussion to background vocals, was given room to stretch out and show off their chops throughout the set, hitting highlights from Lovett’s career, including: If I Had A Boat, Here I Am, Penguins, I Will Rise Up/Ain’t No More Cane, Up In Indiana, LA County and She’s No Lady. He also presented a further sampling of his latest album with the title track, Farmer Brown/Chicken Reel, Pantry, Loretta (another Townes Van Zandt cover) and It’s Rock And Roll.
Throughout the night the crowd experienced Lovett with simply an acoustic guitar, in a small ensemble and with his full Large Band, as on their now signature tune, That’s Right (You’re Not From Texas). Regardless of the incarnation of the band, Lovett’s style does not waver. The Lyle Style, a combination of consummate professionalism, humorous and affecting stories and a powerful voice, is ever present.
Here are some pictures and a write-up from DSP and a video of If I Had Boat from the Toronto show just a few days after the band hit Ithaca.
Sometimes, when least expected, a show can wildly exceed expectations. That was the case when I first saw Lyle Lovett in concert.
I had some experience with Lovett, having heard his excellent covers compilation Step Inside This House (on which he covers his favorite Texan songwriters, including Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark) through a friend in the late 90’s and had heard the hits, such as If I Had A Boat, but in no way was I prepared for the live Lyle Lovett experience.
Lovett and John Hiatt hit the State Theater of Ithaca in February of 2008 for an acoustic show in which the two songwriters shared the stage. With songs and stories the two captivated the audience for hours and demonstrated just how effective and powerful the simple combination of an acoustic guitar and voice can be. Lovett certainly has a good voice on record, but in concert his voice reaches another level. Clean and full, it fills the room and commands attention.
Expecting to enjoy my first Lovett show and leaving awed made his return to the State this November a can’t miss concert of the fall season.
Lovett’s second appearance in Ithaca started in similar fashion as he opened the show with a pair of quieter, acoustic songs, Whooping Crane and Sun And Moon And Stars, two covers from his 2009 release Natural Forces. For this show, however, Lovett was armed with much more than an acoustic guitar as he brought along his Large Band. After the peaceful introductory numbers, the Large Band (of 13 members) kicked into their Blues Walk and put the show onto a new trajectory and displayed a different kind of showmanship.
Each member of the Large Band, from percussion to background vocals, was given room to stretch out and show off their chops throughout the set, hitting highlights from Lovett’s career, including: If I Had A Boat, Here I Am, Penguins, I Will Rise Up/Ain’t No More Cane, Up In Indiana, LA County and She’s No Lady. He also presented a further sampling of his latest album with the title track, Farmer Brown/Chicken Reel, Pantry, Loretta (another Townes Van Zandt cover) and It’s Rock And Roll.
Throughout the night the crowd experienced Lovett with simply an acoustic guitar, in a small ensemble and with his full Large Band, as on their now signature tune, That’s Right (You’re Not From Texas). Regardless of the incarnation of the band, Lovett’s style does not waver. The Lyle Style, a combination of consummate professionalism, humorous and affecting stories and a powerful voice, is ever present.
Here are some pictures and a write-up from DSP and a video of If I Had Boat from the Toronto show just a few days after the band hit Ithaca.
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