An Intimate Evening With the Cowboy Junkies

I have been a long-time fan of the Canadian group the Cowboy Junkies since the release of their Trinity Session album back in 1988. Athough I have picked up another half dozen or so of their CDs in the last 20 years, I never seemed to have the opportunity to see them perform live. So when I saw that they would be playing in Davenport, Iowa I jumped at the opportunity even though it was two and a half hours away in the middle of the work week!

I had never been to Davenport for a musical event and was completely unfamiliar with venues in that city. I learned later that the location for the Cowboy Junkies performance - the Redstone Room of the River Music Experience facility - is a non-profit venue which uses concert income to support the music education of Davenport youths - another good reason to have purchased a ticket! 

I headed southeast towards the Quad Cities after my last class, filling my car with the deep soothing tones of the Trinity Session as well as later albums during the journey. I used my GPS to more or less randomly pick out a restaurant near the venue and lucked out with a cute little family run Italian place just 1 block away - Antonella's Trattoria and Pizzeria. It smelled just heavenly when I entered, redolent with garlic, sausage and fresh baked pizza crust. Did you ever notice that the chain pizza places like Godfather's just never smell that way??? Although my nose almost made me splurge on a million calorie pie, I went with the Chicken Marsala with Fettucini instead, served with lots of mushrooms and onions. The chicken was yummy but next time I'd ask for light sauce on the pasta. A cannoli topped off my meal (okay,okay - so I didn't save many calories by ordering the chicken, what can I say?).

I walked over to the second floor venue at River Music Experience, just a block or two from the Mississippi River. Before it became a performance venue it had briefly been a music museum, so the halls were lined with bits of music memorabilia mostly from famous jazz musicians. Although the museum had probably been busy during the annual  Bix Beiderbecke Festival, I guess the year-round attendance was not high enough to sustain the museum, so they switched it to a performance venue surrounded by music practice rooms for local young people. The Cowboy Junkie show was a sell-out but I heard that, for this facility, that means a mere 130 tickets! It was going to be an intimate evening of music!!

I had arrived just before the doors opened and scored a second row seat when I entered the theatre. I had a nice time chatting with the other Cowboy Junkie fans around me until showtime. An interesting indie performer (with kind of a jazzy-folk vibe) Lojo Russo opened  the evening. I enjoyed her set but the back-of-the-room audience was annoyingly chatty. (Quiet down or take it outside guys while the music is on!!).

Then the Cowboy Junkies!! They look somewhat different than the long-haired somewhat hippie images that albums and videos had set in my memory all these years. Leader singer Margo Timmons looks more like a middle aged mom - with short hair and a respectable dress (see clips below). But they sound just as wonderful as ever!! The acoustics of the Redstone Room are not those of the Trinity Church, but the audience was enthralled throughout their approximately two hour set. I wish their mandolin (and miscellaneous other instruments) did not hide out at the back of the stage - I kept craning my neck trying to catch a glimpse of his musical artistry. And I also wish Margo did not sometimes seem to hide her face from the audience. Could she be a little stage shy after all these years?

The Cowboy Junkies played quite a bit of new music, as might be expected, since the first of a multi-CD project will come out in about a month. The new music sounded very good and I will be sure to watch for the album release. But I must say that I personally was a little sorry not to hear more of my favorite Cowboy Junkies' classics. I suppose all musicians constantly struggle with the balance between presenting their newest work versus their old fan favorites. But no "Sweet Jane"? Blue Moon? I'm So Lonesome?

Anyway it was a great evening except for not getting home until close to 2 am with an early class to teach the next morning!!

My Keith Urban High in Houston

Oh I am grinning and floating on a cloud, enjoying that Keith Urban post-concert glow. How that man can do that even in pretty poor stadium conditions where the sound goes in and out and isn’t great even when its “in” is amazing. I SO needed that dose of KU - I was parched for KU, yearning for KU, so even a mere 65 minutes of KU was one sweet drink of water. 

And he looked so, so fine. He wore a cherry red shirt that, of course, flattered him, unbuttoned to the bottom of that new chest tattoo. His hair is still longish (like it was on Jimmy Kimmel’s) with a more free, unstyled appearance than was the case during the last tour. And the lights definitely showed up lots of golden highlights all evening. No watch chain tonight - perhaps in anticipation of a walk out in the audience? Keith was full of energy and enthusiasm, really throwing himself in to his moves on the stage. Oh those swinging hips and guitar flinging arms moves! And even though the stage was constantly rotating, it sometimes wasn’t moving fast enough for him, so that he would circle around the back to make sure the audience back there didn’t think he had forgotten them!

Keith opened with a rousing Kiss a Girl with an especially loud shout out (to us in the audience?) or “Are you ready? Are you ready?” {I AM - I’m really ready!!}. Afterwards he called out a greeting “Good evening Houston - so good to be back!” Then he paused to say “This next guitar is one I’ve never played live before. Its a very special guitar which spent most of its life right here in Texas, so what better place to bring it out?”  He said he wanted to play “just a little song, so say hello to the Waylon Telecaster.” It had quite a unique sound and a special guitar strap saying “Waylon” on it. I imagine it was actually one of Waylon’s personal guitars. Keith then sang what I’m sure was a bit of a tribute: Waylon’s song “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” See my clip at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7EVc4VC3o0

It's the same old tune, fiddle and guitar

Where do we take it from here

Rhinestone suits and new shiny cars

We've been the same way for years

We need to change

Somebody told me when I got to Nashville

Son you finally got it made

Old Hank made it here, we’re all sure that you will

But I don't think Hank done it this way

I don't think Hank done it this way

Ten years down the road, making one night stands

Speeding my young life away

Tell me one more time just so I understand

Are you sure Hank done it this way

Did Ol' Hank really do it this way?

I've seen the world with a five piece band

Looking at the back side of me 

Singing my songs and one of his now and then

But I don't think Hank done 'em this a'way

No I don't think Hank done 'em this a'way

With a shout of “Let’s see some hands up in the air!” it was clear that next up was Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me, with just a tiny bit of playful guitar jousting before hand. I was surprised and a little concerned when it was obvious that not only were C-Rod and Brad missing, but Jerry was absent as well!! Happily Keith later explained that Jerry could not make this show so that Jimmy Lee Sloese (sp?),a guitarist who has played on every one of the albums, was temporarily taking Jerry’s place (including the bit of jousting).

With Keith’s urging the placid Houston crowd clapped some, but they were driving me crazy with their general inactivity!! Keith was anything but inactive, doing his best WWWBM ‘dance’ moves (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNcbuRCop8U )- mmm mmm and throwing in another Texas reference (“Singing a George Strait song to me”) and gave us a big backbend at the end. Then a passionate Stupid Boy  (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcdUdlfaLAA )with my favorite chill-giving guitar solo. Wow! BTW all the guys were somewhat ‘hairier’ that last fall. Brian’s hair is longer than that of Jesus (lol) and I think he had a bit of scruff on that baby chin of his. Chris M also had some scruff (or maybe an actual goatee?) on his chin.

Sweet Thing came next and Keith changed it up slightly by almost speaking rather than singing “lookin’ at me” and “I thought my-oh-my”. I guess it is no surprise that Brian has taken over C-Rod’s various guitar and vocal duos with Keith. I’m not sure whether it was due to this particular stage or not, but Brian seemed to be closer or more prominently featured next to Keith, even during some of Keith’s solos. See what you think.

When Days Go By began and Keith called out “Let me see you on your feet!” I could take passivity no more. I was up on my feet and turned around beckoning everyone around me to stand up as well. “He just asked us to stand up!! Come on - let’s show him we’re having a good time!!” I said. I got about 50% participation but at least I felt I could finally completely give in to the music and fully enjoy it!!

Then Til Summer Comes Around  ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIcuDMOVrNU )(the 2 guitar solo songs were closer together than usual but I guess you don’t have much leeway when you are only given an hour to play). The solo was seering - totally hot. In my dreams I might have asked Keith afterwards “Was that as good for you as it was for me?!” LOL

After Only You Can Love Me (during which the cameras really caught his baby blues) ( see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHWXBOQTj3M )Keith gave the audience one of several compliments on their singing “Beautiful job Houston!” In the audience it was really hard to tell if many were singing, but I hope perhaps he could hear those of us who were better up there on stage.

I wish I were able to read lips to decode the joking exchange between Keith and Brian as he broke into the opening chords of You Look Good in My Shirt. Perhaps something about being about to risk life and limb as he ran the gauntlet of the stadium crowds? Some might have thought that Keith might have lost some of his physical conditioning in the 5 months since the end of the tour, but his jaunt around the Reliant, up chute walls, over fences and up into the risers says that ain’t the case!! I don’t know if they planned the route ahead of time or whether he is just a clever improvisor because he even found a spot in the fence to stick his hand-held mike into so that he could play the guitar while he sang into the fence (mike).  (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqFXsVg7bA8 ) Keith passed about 5 fet in front of me - about 4 feet too far to get a hand slap. He didn’t even look winded after the quite lengthy YLGIMS outing although I think he did have to struggle a bit to get out of the riser crowd  that surrounded him, and his hair was tossled by all those hands! Apparently didn’t worry him a bit since he went out for a second trip into the audience later in his set!! One thing about “Shirt” and his wild trip around the stadium - he finally had virtually everyone standing up, reaching out, craning their necks, applauding, screaming - at last!

It is possible that Keith was babying his voice a bit last night. Although I didn’t see any other signs that he was under the weather I did notice that he seemed to skip some of his big high notes. So there was no dramatic “ I miss your love, I miss your love, I miss your L-O-V-E!!” in TSCA and there seemed to be no final oo- hoo - oo- hoo at the close of You’ll Think of Me (although, strangely, in my videoclip, his lips seem to form these shapes but there is no obvious vocal??).He did add an extra emphatic  “You’re gonna regret it” to his emotional YTOM ending however.

The final songs were Somebody Like You and Better Life.  Keith shocked all of us by once again going out into the audience during SLY - what a brave man, so determined to thrill his fans. Unfortunately my camera memory card was full by that time : (  so I missed the exuberant jumps and circles and the final backbend which gave way to lying fly on the floor while still playing.

He began Better Life with a big "Un, dos, tres, quattros" and added a new guitar variation at the end. After leading the audience is his usual day-o and yeah-yeah-yeah rounds, time was up.  Keith circled the stage thanking the audience, bowing, signing to us, then climbed into the back of a flatbed truck with the other guys and waved as they were chauffered out of the arena. Too too soon but it was so much fun while it lasted!! Now to start counting the days until Florence, Arizona!

I’ll be working on uploading quite a few shorter clips below, but uploading is slow.

Urban Journey #1 for 2010: The Houston Rodeo

It has been 118 days since I last saw Keith perform live at Joe’s Bar in Chicago. That may not sound like a long time to most people but it has seemed like an eternity to me! Although the hour long shows and far away stage at the Houston Rodeo don’t make it an ideal venue, desperate Keith addicts jonesin’ for a fix are traveling from far and wide to this first official stop on Mr. Urban’s 2010 ‘festival tour’. Since the date coincided nicely again with my spring break, I decided to make my second annual pilgrimage to Texas (too bad there is no special Dallas House-of- Blues appearance this year).

When the Houston tickets first went on sale - no presale this year so I knew I was up against the general public - I was over-anxious and ended up buying 3 different tickets when I only needed one. Me and my bad Ticketmaster habits! But I was able to re-sell my extras - one to a New Jersey gal (as I mentioned we travel from all over to see KU) and the other to a Houstonite (funny that he had to buy a ticket from me in Iowa!).

I’m arriving a day early to be safe and will see Lady Antebellum tonight. I had a bit of concern that I might not make it to their show when my airline called at 9:00 pm last night and said my flight had been canceled. At first they suggested I drive to Cedar Rapids at 4 am to take a crack of dawn alternative flight. I was not thrilled with that prospect and asked if they would pay for a Cedar Rapids hotel that evening so I wouldn’t be on the road at 4:00. They called back and instead put me in a first-class seat at 11 am - alright!!! Cocktails and wine and a very good Turkey Caprese sandwich with fresh basil pesto mayo on ciabatta bread - guess I’ll forgive them for canceling my original flight : )

I am bubbling with curiosity about Keith’s performance. Who will he have with him? Will there be replacements for both C-Rod and Brad? Or might this have been a show that was handy or perhaps arranged before contract negotiations? What songs will Keith choose for the limited time the Rodeo allows him? Will he still include “Shirt” and make a jaunt around the arena? Will Nic and Sunday be there to take in the Livestock Show and carnival rides? 

_________

Well, it is now 12 hours later and I am back from my first night at the Rodeo. It is quite a zoo here in the stadium area. Got caught in some terrible traffic coming in from the airport. My hotel is within eyesight of the Reliant Stadium but I had to have my shuttle driver drop me at the restaurant on the corner because the streets were so congested!

They said a little over 64,000 were in attendance at tonight’s show and I think all of them are driving down the road in front of my hotel! Good thing I was hoofing it - it was a lovely evening for walking -  still close to 65 -70 degrees.

To me it seemed the Reliant stage had been improved or enlarged to include short catwalks on all 4 sides, and that the video screens looked very high definition. Sadly the sound is still “stadium sound” - not the best for us or the performers, who can’t hear much from the audience. Lady Antebellum put on a good show. They all looked good and happy. Hillary was in skin tight black jeans and an interesting black strapless top. Charles is definitely a cutie. As performers they are at a bit of a disadvantage being so new - only their hits elicit much response from an already pretty laid back rodeo crowd. I hope it won’t be an audience of quiet ‘sitters’ tomorrow!!! I am ready to sing and dance and whoop it up so Keith knows we’re there!

Houston Rodeo!!

En route to the Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show to see Lady Antebellum tonight and Keith Urban tomorrow evening. Maybe I'll cross paths with Keith in the Houston airport? I'd be ever so happy to share a ride into town.