A full house and a rock and roll band By Amanda on April 11, 2009 8:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)
About four years overdue, Lucinda Williams finally took the stage at the Enmore on Monday night and I had my front row centre seat which appropriately had me literally sitting at her feet, gazing straight up. Nice for the metaphor, murder on the neck.
Lucinda's lyrics, especially in latter years but it was always there, are the most comprehensive compendium of modern adult womanhood I know of and this naturally includes a recognition of what you can and cannot compromise on, and an acceptance of any losses that causes. (The way reviewers harp on her loneliness or whatever really irks me as it really elides the complexities.) It's a difficult sensibility for some I guess but really hits home for me and why I get lost in the newer records more than others. The point is: live, her presence mirrors this familiar daily trajectory, laid bare. Nervousness channeling the unquestionable strength of her voice and vision.
A word on the reservations of my comrade, FXH. There hasn't been solid twang - apart from her voice - on any album in the last decade and the current band recreates the gauzy rock she's been cultivating so I don't see any angle for complaint there. Sure, I'd love more of the earlier country rock and more of the ballads, but then I say that about everyone. 1987 is gone and ain't never coming back and that's all you can say about that. It is the same sound as the whole album live shows she did, which I have listened to on CD a fair bit. Mind you Buick 6 were loud, so that they shook my ribcage during their opening set and lead me to stay out there in the foyer rather than take my seat. As one of the Walkman generation my hearing is already headed to an inevitable early demise, and I wince a bit more a buzzsaw guitars close up than I once did. That made me a little wary, but with Lucinda they settled into their complementary groove, without overwhelming. There was a pedal steel layed out, but I don't recall if it got played?
But to be the honest the band to me was always going to be, at most, a distraction. It usually is. So sorry, hard grafting musos but I'm a singer obsessive and as long as you don't get in the way of the Voice, you're probably cool with me. After Melbourne I buttonholed Tim Dunlop, late of the blogosphere, for his impressions (especially as he had travelled from Adelaide just for it) and nodded along when he replied it was "all about her voice" and thus, what's not to like? The setlist was a good balance, even a couple of the earliest Folkways songs, through to a few off Little Honey (I still don't think much of "Little Rock Star" I have to say.) Of course there were a dozen others, at least, at minimum, just for a start you'd want to hear but it covered all reasonable bases. She started with "Fruits of My Labor", one of those songs which pulls me in irrevocably and haunts me. And thus as we had begun, we continued.
By Francis Xavier Holden
on April 14, 2009 6:27 PM
Were I a less integrated and zen like person I might have been tempted to arc up in response to your subtle but pointed barbs. Your additional appeal to a higher authority, no less than Dunlop the Adelaidean, achieves its purpose of grinding the message home.
But, and it’s a big but, where did I say it wasn’t about the voice?
A more nuanced reading of my outpourings would have understood that was my exact cri de Coeur.
Sure I said twang. But that was a shorthand for a backing that supported, underlined, emphasised, enhanced, showcased, encouraged the grain of that particular voice. A voice that stands alongside the great white soul voices of, but not limited to, George Jones, Van Morrison, Tim Buckley, Hank Williams and Patsy Cline. My complaint was that the band, as good as they are, and I loved (and stayed for – take that) their solo surf/symphony set, didn’t respect and honour the voice as much as they should have.
C’mon Floppy, think back to Lenny. Would you have let those guys do it to his lyrics and voice? No way.
It’s simple. Lucinda is one of the greats. Her voice deserves the best, not the (very) good enough.
By Amanda
on April 14, 2009 6:50 PM
A well-tempered riposte, sir.
I thought Buick 6 were quite unremarkable in that they sounded exactly like the last four or five records. I don't think they took anything from her voice, they just unobtrusively laid down her preferred Sound so she could do her thing.
Were her vocals not clear where you were or something? They were crystal and right up front for me.
Did the lead guitarist grab her mic and start reciting from his unpublished beat novel or something?
By Francis Xavier Holden
on April 14, 2009 7:12 PM
1987 is gone and ain't never coming back and that's all you can say about that.
C'mon - Some of us are still lamenting that 1956 ain't ever gunna return!
By Francis Xavier Holden
on April 14, 2009 9:13 PM
Anyway Anne at Cat Politics http://catpolitics.blogspot.com/ agrees with me.
And she's female.
Likes cats, has a blog, likes horses and country music.
So there.
By Francis Xavier Holden
on April 14, 2009 9:28 PM
I've just found out that Rodney Crowell http://www.rodneycrowell.com/ is on at my old alternating radio show buddy, Andrew Pattison's winery http://www.harmonyrow.com.au/ on Friday night.
I might get a carload together, for meal and show, on the promise I'll be the designated driver. Bugger.
By Amanda
on April 15, 2009 6:55 AM
I would def rec taking the opportunity -- he's never been here before. I'm seeing him tonight.
By Tim
on April 15, 2009 10:46 AM
I can see both sides of this and don't really think the sides are that far apart anyway. While I don't think it is right to say that the band didn't honour the voice--more like they supported a different aspect of it--I also don't think it's right to say that they sounded exactly like the last 4 albums either. They definitely bring a harder edge to the sound and I can understand why someone would miss the sublime, tasteful and controlled "twanging" of Doug Pettibone. The guy's a genius and he gave Lu something I doubt she'll get elsewhere.
Still, A is right to say "they just unobtrusively laid down her preferred Sound so she could do her thing." Key phrase "her preferred Sound". I can live with Lu's judgment on the matter.
Anyway, one of the many things that struck me was just how awesome the repertoire is and that I could've sat there all night, whoever she had in the band.
And FX, sorry we didnt' get to catch up. It was a flying, single-purpose visit, but it would've been good to maybe grab a drink afterwards. Next time, tho no idea when that will be.