Lucinda Williams at Artpark
Having photographed and reviewed the Lucinda Williams show about 3 months ago at the University of Buffalo Center for the Arts, Val and I decided that making her lug the camera around to photograph and review her Artpark show July 17 would not be fair, and that we would simply attend and enjoy the concert.
We had enjoyed her April show at UB more than any we had witnessed in about 10 years, so we were happy for that, but the Tuesday show was great, adhering to what Val and I believe is the formula for a great Lucinda Williams show: she concentrated on material from her first three official releases, her self-titled album, Sweet Old World and Car Wheels on a Gravel Road.
She ended up performing 16 songs at Artpark, 11 of them from the above-three albums. Indeed, the show started with five old songs; Williams opened with a solo, acoustic guitar and voice version of "Passionate Kisses," with her band joining her on "Pineola," "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road," "Changed the Locks" and "Concrete and Barbed Wire." The songs were in a somewhat raw but not sloppy manner, and the rest of the show featured lots of her bluesier side, which Williams said was intentional because she noticed that Buffalo/Western New York was a blues region.
Another great song that night was when Williams had opener Charlie Louvin join her and the band on stage for an intense run-through of the gospel song "Gotta Get Right with God." Louvin was enjoyable as an opener, playing some real traditional simple country and gospel, but his voice is showing some strain from age, etc.
Our seating arrangements were interesting; we were more than fortunate enough to meet and sit with Giles and Jill Manias, great people and the parents of singer/guitarist Alex Lynne; we had some wonderful conversations.
Just before Williams' set started, a group of about 8 people asked if they could set up their chairs behind us; we said yes, because there was more than enough space.
One woman in the group was particularly talkative and said how excited she was to be seeing Williams in concert again, because "Lucinda really speaks to me." When several summer Artpark concerts were announced, she screamed "woooooo" for Pure Prairie League, and actually leapt into the air with fists clenched and raised when America was mentioned. She also proceeded to shout/mewl "Luuuuuciiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinda" throughout the show, thankfully most often between songs.
We had enjoyed her April show at UB more than any we had witnessed in about 10 years, so we were happy for that, but the Tuesday show was great, adhering to what Val and I believe is the formula for a great Lucinda Williams show: she concentrated on material from her first three official releases, her self-titled album, Sweet Old World and Car Wheels on a Gravel Road.
She ended up performing 16 songs at Artpark, 11 of them from the above-three albums. Indeed, the show started with five old songs; Williams opened with a solo, acoustic guitar and voice version of "Passionate Kisses," with her band joining her on "Pineola," "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road," "Changed the Locks" and "Concrete and Barbed Wire." The songs were in a somewhat raw but not sloppy manner, and the rest of the show featured lots of her bluesier side, which Williams said was intentional because she noticed that Buffalo/Western New York was a blues region.
Another great song that night was when Williams had opener Charlie Louvin join her and the band on stage for an intense run-through of the gospel song "Gotta Get Right with God." Louvin was enjoyable as an opener, playing some real traditional simple country and gospel, but his voice is showing some strain from age, etc.
Our seating arrangements were interesting; we were more than fortunate enough to meet and sit with Giles and Jill Manias, great people and the parents of singer/guitarist Alex Lynne; we had some wonderful conversations.
Just before Williams' set started, a group of about 8 people asked if they could set up their chairs behind us; we said yes, because there was more than enough space.
One woman in the group was particularly talkative and said how excited she was to be seeing Williams in concert again, because "Lucinda really speaks to me." When several summer Artpark concerts were announced, she screamed "woooooo" for Pure Prairie League, and actually leapt into the air with fists clenched and raised when America was mentioned. She also proceeded to shout/mewl "Luuuuuciiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinda" throughout the show, thankfully most often between songs.
posted by Kevin J. Hosey at 2:10 AM
1 Comments:
Hey guys! My folks told me they had an awesome time with you, and that LW was in fine form. I'm sorry we missed it - Richard and I both lamented the fact that we didn't get out there. Lunch for Val's birthday Wednesday, Kevin - skip work, skip work, skip work!!! Miss you guys...see you soon!
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