First things first. Happy Birthday Lucinda (I’ll not tell a lady’s age…I was brought up better). Still for over four decades this gals’ been making records. Very fine records they are, too. It’s not so much the accompaniment (which is great). It’s the words** and the delivery which are at once outstanding and effortless. This has long been only one of Lucinda Williams’ strengths. It’s missing the point to compare her to other singer/songwriters. Hers is a fiercely independent spirit and that, as much as anything else, defines her and her art.
Lucindas’ is an accent which is almost stereotypical southern drawl. But that’s authentically HER. She’s a true southerner. A country rock Superstar. And that’s important. For it’s the Rock that’s often forgotten, yet always in play, when Lucinda performs. She’s even got her covers ‘cottage industry’ (through her own record company) with the Beatles, Stones, Dylan, and Tom Petty given the Lucinda treatment and are worth checking out for the unique song choices as much as anything. Not to mention her Blues and Trad, Folk and Soul (you name it…!) compilations. Effortless, always! So, despite no longer playing acoustic rhythm guitar (a consequence of a stroke some years ago), the birthday girl takes to the Olympia stage, and before she can sing a note, the audience gives a rendition of Happy Birthday.
That constitutes the only off pitch performance of the evening. For the next 100 minutes, Lucinda Williams and her band entertained like their lives depended on it. The band were exceptional and reminiscent of something I took a while to identify. But I’ll get back to that later. Aside from a number of anti-Trump remarks, it was a run through some of the best of an extensive repertoire (‘Side of the Road’ and ‘Sweet Old World’ notable absentees). She studied the lyric monitor throughout as if swatting for her finals. We did get ‘Car Wheels on a Gravel Road’, as well as a number of covers (Skip James ‘Hard Time on the Killing Floor’, Beatles ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ Marleys ‘Too Much Trouble In The World’, Memphis Minnie’s ‘You Can’t Rule Me’) and seemed to be making a point. This was hammered home with a finale singalong ‘Rockin In The Free World’.
But before that, we were treated to a scattering of tunes from across her impressive catalogue. ‘Joy’ , ‘World’s Gone Wrong’, ‘Blue’, ‘Righteously’, and the Blaze Foley tribute ‘Drunken Angel’ will give a flavour of the entertainment. A new bar song, ‘Low Life’ shows Lucinda’s writing is as sharp as ever. And yes, that sound the band were hitting all night is pure Neil Young (circa Live Rust). Didn’t see that coming! It’s worth mentioning tonight’s support. Ben de la Cour is new to these shores, but has released four albums and commands his slot with the assurance of a seasoned performer. Something of a maverick, Ben treated us to a half dozen tunes (‘Numbers Game’, ‘Appalachian Book Of The Dead’ being highlights) from his latest two LP’s “New Roses” and “Sweet Anhedonia”. He’s at his best when he’s quirky and it’ll be interesting to see where he goes from here.
** She is the daughter of Millar Williams. Poet and academic, who delivered his “Of History And Hope” at Bill Clinton’s 2nd inauguration. Classy! Just sayin. G
Ben De La Cour photos:
Lucinda Williams photos & set-list:
Set-list:
World Without Tears
Can’t Let Go (Randy Weeks cover)
Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
Drunken Angel
The World’s Gone Wrong
People Talkin’
Low Life
Fruits of My Labor
Blue
So Much Trouble in the World (Bob Marley & The Wailers cover)
You Can’t Rule Me (Memphis Minnie cover)
Something’s Gotta Give
Sing Unburied Sing
Out of Touch
While My Guitar Gently Weeps (The Beatles cover)
Changed the Locks
Righteously
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Hard Time Killin’ Floor Blues (Skip James cover)
Joy
Rockin’ in the Free World (Neil Young cover)
Photos – David McEneaney @experimentzero
Words – Gerry McCrave