Lucinda Williams Rocks!

So Rowan spent his first night with a babysitter last night. Of course, it was his grandma, so it wasn't that traumatizing for him. My wife and I took advantage of our few hours alone to go to see Lucinda Williams play at the Matt's Brewery in Utica, NY. WOW!!! What an amazing show. I have been aware of Lucinda for a few years, ever since she got on the same record label as Ryan Adams, my personal favorite performer. Yet, other than the amazing Car Wheels on the Gravel Road, I didn't have any of her albums. It didn't matter how many songs I knew by heart, she rocked every single one of them. She came on stage at the unique show place a little after 8:00 and didn't stop playing until 10:00 curfew. For those who aren't aware, the Saranac Stage at Matt's Brewery is an outdoor stage built in the courtyard of the brewhouse. The brewery is right in the middle of a residential neighborhood, so performances have to end at 10:00. But she milked every second she could. She opened with "Fruits of My Labor", and seemed a little tentative at first. But by the time she finished with "Car Wheels" she was letting loose and tearing up the stage. Backed by her great band, especially Doug Pettibone on guitar, she played some older songs as 'rehearsals' for her upcoming album-a-day tour. In between the barnstormers like "Those Three Days" and the very sensual "Unsuffer Me", songs which really showcased her powerful roadhouse voice, she played the sorrowful "Pineola", "Fancy Funeral" and "Mama You Sweet" about her mother, and "Bus to Baton Rouge" in honor of a friend who had passed away. Given the unique locale, she seemed to really be playing the show fast and loose, changing her song list on the fly. For one gentlemen who shouted out repeatedly for it, she played "Real Live Bleeding Fingers and Broken Guitar Strings." She introduced a new song, "Honey Bee", which had some interesting metaphorical imagery in the lyrics. And for the encore she played a cover of "Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys," before scrapping her plans and ending with "Still I Long for Your Kiss," one of my personal favorites! Between the amazing vocals and backing music, her southern charms, and her stage presence that seems to grow after each song, it was a great concert. It did what every concert should strive to do...left me wanting more!