What do you want to give up? A mid concert “Honky Tonk Heroes” with Shaver yodeling like Slim Whitman? A last song “You Just Can’t Beat Jesus”? The story leading up to “Ragged Old Truck” which culminates in Shaver lying in bed and trying to kill himself?
One fist pumping diner at a center stage however was so moved by the rendition Dancing with Tears in My Eyes to yell “Fuck Yes” directly at Exene who stood a merely dozen or so feet away and elicit her sarcastic response “Thank You Mr. Anarchy personified”. A good time had by all!
The strength of the evening… actually, it was just a great set. Crenshaw was in fine voice, the band sounded terrific, the song selections very strong, and the wooliness of the set up allowed Crenshaw to go off on tangents. Mishearing a song request, he decided to play Five Man Electrical Band’s 1971 “Signs”.
The amazing thing here is how involved the big man is in the music, how alive Womack is to the sounds, how at 69 years old he might still be l a badass but he is a joyful, surviving badass; it’s like the world has grown only as big as the stage he controls and this world is timeless soul greatness.
The first song is a pure country “Making My Way Back Home” could be covered by Loretta Lynn or maybe more to the point Patsy Cline, it has a deep country stir and a joyfulness which, as so happens, seems singed by a deep well of sadness. It is very lovely and it takes Iris a couple of minutes to get her bearings, “I wanna play it again” she laughed
Crenshaw does smooth as silk run offs before ending up at the guitar bottle top and as the song reaches the end Kaplan reminds us why he has a sonically youthful day job and the entire band is on fire
