Another side effect of thirty years in the music business is that, despite owning most of the man's albums, I didn't immediately recognize a bunch of the songs in the set list. This was partly due to the fact that it was tilted heavily toward stuff from the new album (which we bought at the show), but mostly just because it was a solo acoustic show, and that's what you expect from a solo acoustic show. He played new songs, re-worked old songs, threw in the odd album track, and told long funny stories about the meaning of the songs, and how all the troubles of the world can be traced to good coffee and bad pastry. He even included one as-yet-unrecorded song, which is probably called "Meet Me in the Morning," unless he decides that's too much of a Dylan reference.
Having heard the new record, it's also clearer to me why he's doing solo shows now, after releasing a record with, you know, electric guitars and stuff. The "winging it" tone of the show actually fits pretty well with the tone of the album. It's a very... casual sort of record, with songs that don't try too hard to be anything in particular. There's one track about the joy of walking his dog, another singing the praises of diner food, and some just generally goofy material. But it sounds like they had fun recording it, and he sure seemed to be having fun playing it.
The new record is good, and the show was excellent. If you see either in your neighborhood, you could do much worse that to buy it.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
Sounds like a great show - thanks chad. The thing I like best about Hiatt is he just keeps getting better with age. How many can say that?
2 - mike
I am a long time fan of john hiatt, and debated whether to see him again in Troy, I'm only in the next city over. And yes, the acoustics are awesome there.. The past few times I saw him, he was solo. He does a great concert solo and with a bad. I'm glad to see a review from the show, besides the local paper.
I am off to New Hampshire at the end of July to see him with the Goners, and opening up is Robert Cray.
He's that good of a show, for someone to travel out of state to see. Anyone wants info on the NH concert, email me.
Maybe I'll load up the car with other fans.
3 - mike
I am a long time fan of john hiatt, and debated whether to see him again in Troy, I'm only in the next city over. And yes, the acoustics are awesome there.. The past few times I saw him, he was solo. He does a great concert solo and with a bad. I'm glad to see a review from the show, besides the local paper.
I am off to New Hampshire at the end of July to see him with the Goners, and opening up is Robert Cray.
He's that good of a show, for someone to travel out of state to see. Anyone wants info on the NH concert, email me.
Maybe I'll load up the car with other fans.
4 - Jonathan
I am travelling to London tomorrow to see John Hiatt and The Goners with Robert Cray as opening act. I have been a HUGE fan of both artists for a long time now but have a preference towards John. I have seen Robert several times and sorta know what to expect but I have yet to see John. I know that Sonny will be on slide guitar and that will surely create some atmospherics and histrionics no doubt but it's the raucous voice and dextrous playing of John that I am going there for. I'll let you know how it went.
5 - Jonathan (again!)
I was fortunate to see John Hiatt playing in London on Monday of this
week and John was on top form throughout the evening. There was lots
of good humour evident on stage and I couldn't fault the actual
performance but it was VERY LOUD! Several people left the auditorium
midway though the set and the person I was with had to get up and
stand at the back due to the noise. I was also hoping that Sonny
Landreth would 'open up' but his playing was rather subdued all
evening, except towards the end of the set. I have loved John for a
number of years and it won't put me off seeing him again but I just
felt that the volume marred what was otherwise an excpetional gig.