2009.02.21
John Prine at Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre
I had never seen Prine live before, but his records have soaked in over the years, via osmosis. Every one sounds familiar, and maybe that's because he keeps the chords simple, but as I wrote in the print review, the chords themselves are not the point. The guy is a great lyricist. Don't listen to me -- he's the first singer-songwriter to read and perform at the Library of Congress.
And it's not all a big serious thing with him. I didn't have room to write about "Dear Abby," in which he comes off like a Dr. Seuss, riffing on people's petty problems. Before starting the last verse, he told the crowd that when he was writing the song, he ran out of ideas, so he had to rely on "something most songwriters hate to resort to -- the truth."
He completed the tune with a true episode from his own life:
"Dear Abby, Dear Abby, well I never thought
That me and my girlfriend would ever get caught
We were sitting in the back seat just shooting the breeze
With her hair up in curlers and her pants to her knees
Signed, Just Married"
Then he followed up with the last refrain of the Seuss-ian chorus:
"Just married, just married, You have no complaint
You are what your are and you ain't what you ain't
So listen up Buster, and listen up good
Stop wishing for bad luck and knocking on wood"
People loved it. They laughed and -- except for maybe that last verse -- most surely felt that he was singing about their own lives, foibles and frustrations.
One quick final note. Opening act Carrie Rodriguez showed cool and class when some jackass hollered out during her set: "Where's John?!"
It was annoying to me to hear that, particularly after her accompanist, Javier Vercher, had just sparked up some amazing sax playing on Rodriguez' "Seven Angels on a Bicycle," a pretty song about the death of a friend. Vercher blew passages that combined Branford Marsalis-style chops with Eastern Indian raga lines, as Rodriguez strummed a droning chord on her tenor guitar.
The audience esponded with appreciation for the musicianship (I personally would like to play one instrument as well as he plays at least three), then the guy brayed his insulting question.
Rodriguez didn't seem to flinch at all, and was quick with a response: "He's warming up ... getting ready to play his songs for you guys. And I'm really looking forward to it."
Tad, thanks for b-slapping the dope with the mouth. I enjoyed Carrie Rodriguez and her pecussionist. I couldn't wait to see what instrument he'd play next. By the way, the chatter around me after the dope with no talent (my guess) was absolutely in line with your comments.
Comment by Jim D — February 22, 2009 @ 7:48 am
Loved the show. If there was ever a singer you could call an American Original, it would have to be John Prine.
The drunk who hollered out "Where's John?" happened to be seated behind me. That was the least of the things this guy said. I spoke to him after her performance and prior to John's concerning his behavior and he was fairly gentlemanly for the rest of the show. He may have wanted to waste the $50 he paid for his ticket, but he wasn't going to waste mine.
Comment by Justafan — February 22, 2009 @ 1:02 pm
We attended the John Prine show and had a GREAT time! But I too wanted to toss something at the idiot who hollered "where's John" during Carrie's performance. How very disrespectful!
While her first few songs reminded me of something I call "folk angst", her last few tunes were more up my personal 'alley'. She has a wonderful voice and some serious fiddle skills. And yes, Javier made that odd beat box make sounds I'd never heard...then again, I've never seen this particular type of instrument either! Kudos to them both!
Now for John....my God, what can you say when you get to sit and witness a living legend? I mean, what can you say about someone who seemingly had 'done it all', then he battles throat cancer, comes out of it, and STILL sings like the great story teller that he is.
The crowd was pretty much OK at this show, although the select crowd of over zealous "oh my God if I don't yell he won't hear me" types was really getting annoying as I think I was in the midst of them!! Oddly enough, it was the MEN who repeatedly hollered out "I LOVE YOU JOHN", and I think I heard ONE woman and her pre-teen daughter holler it. LOL
Oh...did I mention the man behind me who had to finish nearly EVERY line in John's songs for us? Yeah...he wasn't worth a $50 show. (the rude man, that is)
John's song selection covered nearly everything I loved....closing with a 'Paradise' encore was the bomb. He won't be performing at Merlefest this year, so we just HAD to get our fix!
The only ANNOYING thing about Roanoke folks in a concert situation is that it seems 50% are always trying to find a way to skirt the rules in the venues. I actually had SO many flash bulbs blind me, I got up and reported the ones nearest to me who I could identify. YOU know who YOU are! Call me square, but after paying $50.50 to see John, AND having to take my camera back to the car after seeing 100s of posters hanging saying CAMERAS ARE NOT ALLOWED, I was pretty po'd that these folks had no concern for anyone around them NOR any respect for the artist and the venue rules. Like I said, call me square....
If John ever comes back to Roanoke and you can afford it, GO SEE THE MAN!
Comment by Banjo Junkie — February 22, 2009 @ 8:15 pm
Thanks for all the comments. I had to leave before the show was over, in order to make deadline, so I missed "Paradise." That was the first Prine song that I can recall hearing -- they used to play it back home on WQUT-FM, when it was still an interesting radio station. That, sad to say, was a long time ago.
Banjo Junkie, I think I saw you outside the venue, saying that you were going back to your car, to put your camera away. Bummer.
Comment by Tad — February 23, 2009 @ 10:01 am
I wasn't at this show but have seen many of the same complaints mentioned by other posters. Over and over people get too drunk at shows. Without fail, somebody near me throws up and created a nasty situation for others. People feel they have to sing every line of every song. Others have to endlessly whistle at deafening volumes. Some have conversations throughout the show about what happened at work that day. There's always somebody that endlessly yells his song request over and over even though everybody knows it will be an encore song (or in many cases the band has the same setlist night after night and aren't going to vary it based on some idiot's screams). And then what is the deal with people standing throughout a show that has reserved seats? You pay for a seat and then can't use it because some idiot is standing in front of you for the entire time. Then there are the guys that have to put their girlfriend on their shoulders without caring about blocking the view of so many others. I would have loved to have seen John Prine but people have made concerts a miserable experience these days.
Comment by JohnTate — February 23, 2009 @ 10:12 am
Fan behavior is sometimes very poor for concerts. I often enjoy a beer, glass of wine or good bourbon. But for the life of me, I don't understand why someone wants to get staggering drunk when they know they are going to a concert or other public event. While waiting in the lobby Saturday before being allowed in to our seats, I witnessed a man stagger in through the front doors, walk over to the concession stand, buy a Bud Light (unfortunately, the only beer available, I had a Dr. Pepper) and then lean again the wall and drink it in about 3 long draws. A lot of people were watching him and shaking their heads. It was very apparent he was drunk. Except for the ushers, I saw no uniformed security present all evening. I don't understand why obviously iniebriated people are allowed in the door.
During one of the songs Saturday, a young lady felt the need to walk to the front of the stage and stand there for the entire song. No one came down to ask her to move until the song was over and by then she had walked away. I guess she just felt entitled.
Comment by Justafan — February 23, 2009 @ 5:31 pm
Thank goodness for no uniformed security at the Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre. One reason I won't attend another concert at the Civic Center is the behavior of the uniformed security at several shows there. I attended the Sting concert there, watched security behave like a bunch of bullies, and swore I would never go back. And I haven't. However, the RPAT has never presented the same strong arm stuff. I saw Prine there a few years back and had a great time. At that concert, I was stunned by how hard Prine rocked. This was right after his surgery.
Comment by Yah — February 24, 2009 @ 3:04 am
Last Saturday John Prine did two solid hours and had a great big smile on his face the entire time. The fact that he appeared to be having such a good time added to the enjoyment of the music. However, as mentioned earlier, there were a few drunks in the crowd who may have behaved a little better had they laid there eyes on a RPD uniform. I still don't understand why the people checking tickets at the door let staggering drunks in the Hall.
Comment by Justafan — February 24, 2009 @ 3:35 pm