I could’ve written up a better set list for Steve Earle’s solo 45 minute opening set for Levon Helm at the Beacon last night. Yes, I could. But I could’ve written a much, much worse one As Earle noted while discussing his attempts to get back royalties, “I’ve written a fuck load of songs,” before adding, “That’s what happens if you don’t die.”
With just acoustic guitar and a little later a a bouzouki, Earle was an objective lesson on how to construct and perform a wow of a show. Steve, looking like a homeless Santa Claus, opened with sure shot “I Feel Alright” and continued with the manifest destiny sneer “You Know The Rest” and two songs later dug deep deep into his back catalogue and pulled out “Someday”.
By then it was all over. Earle was a study in communication, he spoke when necessary, he was amusing, he was important, he played faves -his and ours and mine. I mean, c’mon, he played “Tennessee Blues”. Remember that one one?
“Sunset in my mirror
Pedal on the floor
Bound for New York City and I won’t be back no more
Won’t be back no more, boss, won’t see me around
Goodbye guitar town.”
Pedal on the floor
Bound for New York City and I won’t be back no more
Won’t be back no more, boss, won’t see me around
Goodbye guitar town.”
And he gave us, er, fuckloads of information:
1. He will be touring with the Dukes next summer.You heard me HE IS REFORMING ONE OF THE GREATEST COUNTRY ROCK BANDS EVER!!! That means we will be shutting up and flying like an aviator one more time.
2. He has recorded a new album.
3. Produced by T. Bone Burnett so we all know what it’ll sound like but… you can’t have everything.
4. He is mixing it.
5. His book will be published this summer.
6. He just won a court case and got a fuckload of bucks.
And Steve couldn’t remember the years he wrote some of those great songs. But he can remember two dates. He can remember when he wrote “Little Rock And Roller” because it’s the same age as his son Justin.
And he can remember he wrote “Goodbye” sixteen years ago because… well i couldn’t make out why but either:
1. His first song out of prison.
2. His first song as a New Yorker.
er, and this is just a guess,
3. Who could forget writing one of the loveliest country rock ballads you’ll ever hear?
Steve ended the set with a thundering, if a sole acoustic guitarist can be said to thunder, “Copperhead Road”. I haven’t much care for Earle’s recorded songs in the 2000s -not blanket contempt, but too much folkie and not enough rockers. So I haven’t seen him live since 2000.
A mistake.
Earle is a great live performer, everyone from KOL to Levon Helm himself could do with lessons.
Catch him live right now.
I