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John Prine on Tour
John Prine has been regarded as one of America's foremost musical storytellers since the 1970s. Although his reputation looms large, when he strolls unassumingly onto a stage, his vibe is more like an amiable next-door neighbor just hopping the fence to commandeer a corner of your porch, ready with an anecdote. So even though Prine classics like "Angel From Montgomery," "Sam Stone" and "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness" have been beloved by generations of fans and covered countless times by everybody from Bonnie Raitt to The Lemonheads, Prine delivers them in concert with a disarmingly casual air, as though these masterworks of Americana were no big deal. Of course when they hit you, there's no denying just how big a deal his idiosyncratic but accessible tunes are.
John Prine in Concert
At the start of the 1970s, when the singer/songwriter boom was at its strongest, it was no less esteemed a talent than Kris Kristofferson who spotted the unusual gift of a young Midwestern troubadour named John Prine and helped him land his first record deal. Prine's self-titled 1971 debut LP remains an American classic, combining complex notions with catchy country/folk melodies and a naturalistic but poetic approach to lyric writing. Many of its songs, like "Illegal Smile," "Hello in There," "Sam Stone" and "Angel from Montgomery" became part of the singer/songwriter canon, and were covered for decades. Over the years, Prine sometimes dipped more into rock 'n' roll or veered further into country, but he never lost the core of his genius. In later days, his releases have been more sporadic, but he's never quit bringing his tunes to the people. Even after enduring some serious health issues, he emerged on top and continues touring and recording throughout the 2010s with as much elan as ever.
I have been a fan of John Prine's since 1976 when I head "Christmas in Prison" on a radio station that Georgia State U had at the time. I saw him first at Great SE Music Hall, then several times since, including at Merlefest 2 years ago. I could sing with him all night and the venue was perfect.
Chastain Park is a great venue. We are big fans of John Prine and this concert was everything we hoped it would be.
John was flawless. Idiot behind me tried to sing every word& ruined nite.
John Prine is still a Prime entertainer. This truly unique talent is at least as good as he ever was. Nobody exists to compare him to. His songs alternately cause you to laugh, cry, or think deeply about life. They all make you sing along. A really nice crowd at the event too.
A great show. All of the old standbys were performed beautifully. The band was very tight. The opening act Justin Townes Earle was wonderful too.
There are few artists who would make me return to the Beacon Theater with its bad sightlines and muddy sound. Two of those artists played there last Friday. Luckily these seats were second row in the upper balcony (last time we were in the last row of the upper balcony) so rtb, violaleeblue, and I had a much better view of the stage. Also the performers were upstage, which also made it easier to see them. The sound was inconsistent. Sometimes the vocals were clear as a bell and other times a bit muddy. There was no low end on the instruments – I couldn’t hear the bottom on any of the guitars and the acoustic bass got lost in the mix. The marvelous Justin Townes Earle was the opening act. If you’ve been following my reviews you know that he is currently one of my favorites. He’s tall and skinny and charismatic. He plays the guitar and it sounds like there are two or three playing along. He tells wonderful stories – both between the songs and with the songs themselves. He sings fast and talks faster. His musical partner, Cory Younts, plays banjo, mandolin, and harmonica. To say he just plays these instruments doesn’t begin to convey how much he owns those instruments. There was the usual banter between the two with both calling each other Charlie. If Earle couldn’t be a musician he’d make a terrific carnival barker. Earle is honky-tonk, old country, new country, alt-country, traditional, alt-traditional, and folk. Unfortunately, like most opening acts, they didn’t get to play to a full house but the response from those who were familiar with Earle and from those who were seeing him for the first time was explosive. On Friday some of the songs were “South Georgia Sugar Babe” (with the fast-talking verse at the start), a Woody Guthrie song, “Halfway to Jackson,” “Someday I’ll Be Forgiven for This,” “They Killed John Henry,” the Replacements’ “Can’t Hardly Wait,” and “Mama’s Eyes.” John Prine is one of those artists I’ve always loved and enjoyed but I don’t go see. I’m so happy I took care of that on Friday. Since his bout with throat cancer his voice has a bit of gravel to it and there’s the normal wear that comes with age but he still sounds great. He’s one of so many artists who was hailed as the next Dylan. His songs have been covered by a lot of other musicians. I’ll admit I’m not a big fan of some of the newer songs like “In Spite of Ourselves” but when he played it I got as caught up in it as I did anything else he did. I liked the other songs from the later albums too – among them were “Glory of True Love,” and his cover of “Bear Creek Blues.” He has new political songs like “Some Humans Ain’t Human.” He played favorites – “Souvenirs,” “Six O’Clock News,” “Sam Stone,” “Grandpa Was a Carpenter,” “Hello In There,” “Angel From Montgomery,” “That’s the Way the World Goes ‘Round,” and “Lake Marie.” I’ve forgotten everything that he played but I do remember that there wasn’t a disappointment in the entire set. Early on he covered a song by his old friend, Steve Goodman. He did a few songs solo on his acoustic guitar but mostly he was joined onstage with two other guys (whose names I didn’t catch) on electric guitar, mandolin, and electric and stand up bass. He was an old folkie and he rocked out. Prine can still make me tear up when singing his sad songs. And his love for his wife shines through on the love songs. Earle may be the future but Prine is in no way just the past. There is still plenty good to come from him.
Great consistent act drawing from his full body of work. In excellent voice, playing was relaxed, but precise. Loved every minute of it!
Great show at the BEACON, please come back soon! Just like his lyrics John's voice has stood the test of time His energy level was as strong as his sense of humor! Just a great show for all who get it!
Every time I see him I enjoy his show. They are always a bit different. At times he has other artists join in for a song or two.
John Prine was in great voice and his guitar playing, while maybe not the same as twenty years ago, hasn't lost much. Unlike some of his contemporaries from the folk tradition of the 60's whose voices that are now barely deciferable (you know who I'm talking about) Mr. Prine was able to provide excellent renditions from his extensive song book that prove he's one of the great founders of an ongoing tradition that has morphed into the singer/songwriter genre of today. If you have a chance I recommend that you go see one of our county's finest songwriters. You'll be grateful that he's still with us.
This is the 4th time I've seen John in the past 10 years. He get's better every time out because his words/songs, wit and humanity flow from his being like fine wine from a bottle. If you have seen him in concert you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't; what are you waiting for?
One of the best shows I've seen. John is greatly talented, a gifted musician and songwriter, yet is humbled by his audience's adoration. I can't think of a song that he didn't play. He is a genuine performer and gentleman. And the Beacon looks great!
First saw Johnny 35 years ago at Avery Fischer Hall and have been hooked ever since. I watched him dance onstage with Bonnie Raitt in Princeton(I think he might have been a little buzzed). He always engages you like your watching him play in your living room. I brought my sister-in-law to the Beacon and she , having barely even heard of him, is now a rabid fan asking for all the recordings I have of John. I've been to hundreds of concerts over the last 40 years and John Prine is among the best. You can never go wrong seeing him and a performance at such a beautiful venue as the Beacon is just icing on the cake. Go Johnny Go!!!
John Prine never disapoints. His autobiograaphical songs are always wonderful to listen to and identify with,If not for myself, many of my friends have been there too. He was gracious and open to the audience. One can say that he sang his heart out as always. A true troubador and child of the sixties.
For his part of the show, John Prine was excellent. He sang most of his best songs, played and sang for about two hours straight, and delivered as expected. He still comes on stage like a guy from down the block, gets right into it, and captivates the audience for the next couple of hours. Prine works harder than most people, and enjoys everything that's going on. The amazing part of an evening listening to John Prine is that all the songs are his. You sit and listen and sing along. You wonder where and how he came up with all the stories and lyrics. And then you realize, hey the word rhymed. The character isn't any different than characters you've seen in the street a hundred times. The renovated Beacon looks great. The acoustics were great. The night was a pleasant night as expected. He should drop the opening act, but I guess he's already giving you about two hours of non-stop entertainment by himself. Go Johhny!
John Prine as usual was great! Great songs about life and sprinkled with some humor, to remind ourselves that we shouldn't take our selves to seriously! Hope he returns soon! Thanks John!
Great concert . . . Perfect venue for John Prine. The Beacon is beautiful. It was my first time at the Beacon and also seeing John Prine. Totally enjoyed the music, all of it!
Excellent show. It was good to see that Prine has not lost a beat and he displayed why he is one of the best songwriters around. A true American folk treasure.
john prine is 2nd to none jason & david i tip my hat to all of you thanks for a great evening
