Steve Earle has become one of our greatest songwriters, producers, impresarios and accumulator of roots music styles - as a widely eclectic master he is perhaps second only to Neil Young (who finds the essence of and takes ownership of most every style he touches) - in Earle's case: roots rock, outlaw country, bluegrass, Irish folk, neo-psychedelia, folk balladeering.
Often and with feeling I have sung his praises, but with his growing independence and confidence, Earle has also allowed his rather unformed and starkly negative political opinions to rise to the fore as well, which is generally fine in song form with the advantage of artistic separation and role-playing, but over the course of a double-CD live set, his speechifying grows wearisome in short order and detracts from the musical experience. (Frankly, I am now reluctant to see Earle live again for fear I will not be able to contain an impulse to shout out "shut the fuck up" in the middle of one of his lectures.)
That musical experience is powerful: his band the Jukes (Kelley Looney - bass, Roscoe Ambel - guitars and keyboards, Will Rigby - drums) rock harder live than on the studio versions of songs like "America v. 6.0," "Ashes to Ashes," "Copperhead Road," "Guitar Town," "Jerusalem" (which here sounds uncannily like Bruce Springsteen), "The Unrepentant," and a rousing cover of "What's So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding." The "Bluegrass Jukes" (Tom O'Brien - mandolin, Darrell Scott - banjo, Dennis Crouch - acoustic bass, Casey Dreissen - fiddle) are also outstanding. Their set - "Hometown Blues, "The Mountain" "Harlan Man" - is the most affecting of the album.
But ultimately Earle is done in by his own rather self-satisfied and smug view of the world - and the state of America today. This live set also reveals what I had long suspected: Earle is an expressive, confident, and easily identifiable singer, but he is not a great one.
Article comments
1 - Jim Carruthers
Okay, who wants to take bets on a fistfight between Eric and Steve?
I've not seen Eric in person, but I've seen Steve a couple of times, and he's a bruiser. So I'll give the edge to Steve, plus he has the power of his convictions.
If it was a game of shinny, Team Earle would kick ass roundly.
2 - Eric Olsen
Dude, he's a big fat guy who can barely move without gasping for breath. I'll leave it at that.
3 - Dude
Er, Eric. When you say, "unformed and starkly negative political opinions," do you really mean opinions you just don't agree with?
You don't have to listen to him rant, you know -- there is a fast-forward button on your CD player, I assume.
As for listening to him in concert, you could tell him to shut the fuck up, but ol' Steve would be surrounded by amps that chances he wouldn't hear you anyway. And if he did, he probably say what he had said before: "Have another drink, and I will be with you in a minute."
Cheers!
4 - Dwaine AKA Scooter AKA D.J.
ERIC OLSEN KICKS ASS!!! No wait, I KICK ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!
5 - Eric Olsen
Unfortunately, the speeches are at the beginning of most songs, so I can't skip, I'd have to sit there and hold the fast forward until I come to a spot where I hope he is finished babbling - too much effort, I'll just listen to the studio albums
And no, I really do mean "unformed and starkly negative political opinions" - they don't make a lot of sense internally, and are terribly negative. he could have spent more time tellign us what he is FOR (if he really has to), rather than spending so much time on what he is against.
I agree with him about capital punishment, by the way.
6 - Dude
Really? I have listened to the same CD, and I don't think those rants he made are "unformed and starkly negative". I think what his rants are what they are -- observations, opinions, emotions -- which are common rants from artists. I don't think there is anything wrong with that.
Sure, none of his rants are stronger than "Billy Austin" (one of his best songs, and dare I say, one of the best songs about capital punishment ever), but he has a right to say what he wants. And at that moment of those performances, during that climate, he probably couldn't help but be pissed off.
I've seen performers ramble on about their love of god, in whom I don't believe, but I've acknowledge their opinions and their right to do so.
7 - Eric Olsen
As always seems to come up in these kinds of discussions: of course he has "the right" to say whatever the hell he wants, and I have the right to say I think it detracts greatly from what would otherwise be a very enjoyable performance, which I have done.
You also have the right to disagree, which you have done.
8 - Dude
Agree, but I've seen it so many times: audiences trying to shape an artist to their own vision, i.e. how the artist should be, as oppose to how he/she really is.
9 - Al Barger
I'll whoop your Daddy's ass
I'll whoop your uncle's ass
And your sister's ass
I might even whoop my own ass
Anybody's ass
Ass kicker
Booty whooper
War "Get Down"
10 - Scott Butki
I have tremendous respect for Earle. He's one of the good ones, in my book.
He does not have a great singing voice but he takes on challenging topics and won't back down.
I disagree with you, Eric, about this album.
I wrote a review of two movies by Earle here.