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Shawn Colvin in Concert
Born in Vermilion, South Dakota and raised in part in Illinois and Ontario, Shawn Colvin was already a well-traveled and seasoned performer by the time she won her first GRAMMY Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album with her debut album, Steady On in 1989. She has been a mainstay of the contemporary folk music scene ever since, releasing eleven superlative albums and establishing herself as one of America’s greatest live performers. She triumphed at the 1998 GRAMMY Awards, winning both Record and Song of the Year for “Sunny Came Home.” Her inspiring and candid memoir, Diamond In The Rough, which chronicles her struggles with depression and eating disorders, was published to strong reviews in 2012. With the wit, lyricism, and empathy that have characterized Shawn’s performances and inspired audiences worldwide, Diamond in the Rough looks back over a rich lifetime of highs and lows with stunning insight and candor.
Shawn’s most recent solo endeavor, Uncovered (Fantasy Records, 2015), is the long-awaited follow up to fan-favorite Cover Girl. Uncovered's twelve tunes include masterful interpretations of songs by Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Tom Waits, Stevie Wonder, Robbie Robertson and Graham Nash to name a few, but in their selection and delivery, they are pure Shawn Colvin.
In June 2016, Shawn Colvin and Steve Earle united to release, Colvin & Earle, their acclaimed self-titled duo album (Fantasy Records). Produced by Buddy Miller (Patty Griffin, Robert Plant, Lucinda Williams) the album features guitarist Richard Bennett (Neil Diamond, Mark Knopfler), drummer Fred Eltringham (Willie Nelson, Kacey Musgraves), and bassist Chris Wood (of Medeski Martin & Wood). Fueled by their longtime friendship, Colvin & Earle beautifully captures the pair’s extraordinary chemistry and is a true standout in careers already filled with pinnacles and masterpieces. The album received high praise from critics – NPR asserted that the duo “Elevated their collaboration to the level of top-flight album-making, bringing seemingly opposing impulses to the process.”
Shawn’s longtime career achievements were recognized when she was recently bestowed with the Lifetime Achievement Trailblazer Award at this year’s Americana Honors & Awards Show, held at Nashville’s famous Ryman Auditorium on September 21st, 2016. Presenting Colvin with this prestigious award was Bonnie Raitt. Of Shawn, Raitt said “She’s simply one of the best singers I’ve ever heard— and a truly gifted and deep songwriter and guitarist… She was groundbreaking when she emerged and continues to inspire me and the legions of fans and other singer/songwriters coming up in her wake”
Like medicine for the soul...Shawn Colvin both a guitar and vocal master and peppered between songs, was amusing banter. My first time at the Birchmere, perfect venue to see and hear Colvin.
I had never seen or heard of Shawn Colvin. On a whim, I planned this evening. My overwhelming reaction was that Shawn's depth of character came through her sigining and playing. Loved her voice and sound! I took my daughter for her 18th B-Day. She loved her too! David 57.
Shawn gave us a wonderful performance on Friday night. I have seen her quite a few times now (lost count, but at least 4) and this was her best. She played over 90 minutes, and really must have felt at home with the crowd. She just seemed very relaxed and informal. The audience was pouring out their love for her, and she dished it back. My favorite was Polaroids. I am sure it is a song she plays at nearly every show, and I have heard it several times live, but this was very special, and then it got better. When it seemed almost over, she stopped singing, but kept playing, and said that soon after she first wrote the song, she realized that it sounded like a lot of other songs she had heard, hits by other songwriters. And she felt a little ashamed by it. Then she seamlessly went into about 8 or 10 songs that used the same chords. Just My Imagination, Ebony and Ivory, and a bunch more that I am now forgetting. With each, there was a recognition from the crowd, and a little singalong. Then she said that it was important for a songwriter to realize that there really isn't anything new under the sun, and that most good songs only have a few chords anyway. It was just really touching and personal, or at least it felt that way. She may be doing this same thing at all her shows, maybe as a way of taking an old song that she is a bit bored with, and making it fresh again. Just delightful. Crisp, clean, brilliant guitar playing, and that voice that really sounds like it is coming from an angel. I never get tired of her! The performance made us forget that we had just overpaid for a mediocre meal at the dinner club where she played! Well, the beer was good anyway!
Shawn is so down-to-earth it took a little time to rediscover just how exceptional an artist and a person she really is. The intimate setting of the Canyon Club made it possible for her to relax and interact very naturally with the crowd. When she first came on stage, she looked to the sides of the room and saw big screens with the venue's logo. She asked what was on TV, and when she learned it would be her on screen as soon as the show started, she groaned and rolled her eyes. But she went back to tuning her guitar and didn't give it another thought. Her voice is still as strong, tender, supple, and masterful as ever. Her guitar work was impressive, I was mesmerized. She biffed a couple of lines and chords, and was apologetic about being rusty, but laughed it off saying "If you want perfect, just listen to the record!" She talked about her recent trip with her daughter to the Grammy's as a nominee, she talked about times in her past, explained points in her lyrics she wanted to be sure we picked up on, and how dreams often inspired songs. It was a wonderful evening, one of the best shows I've been to. It was like sitting in with the coolest friend you could imagine.
Shawn Colvin is charming, engages the audience and sings like she plays her guitar, masterfully. Having seen her twice before, the Coach House-Capistrano affords the audience an intimate setting to connect with the performer. Colvin didn't disappoint covering a wide swath of her material including some surprise, seemingly improv numbers. Neil Young never sounded better. Everytime I hear her do Sting's "Every little thing she does is magic", if you didn't know better, you'd think it was her song. Her vocals were captivating and her guitar was terrific.
I have been going to the Coach House for years, know some people and typically get good seats. This was my first time seeing Shawn Colvin. My girlfriend is a fan and I took her for Valentine's Day. We ended up sitting at the table front and center in the 2nd and 3rd seats. Shawn was so entertaining and engaging with the audience. From our seats, it felt as if she had come over to our home, like we had been friends for years. She plays the guitar beautifully, is a great story teller (called Sting a Panzy Ass because he hinted to her about using an electronic tuner and "He only has four strings"). I am a huge Sting fan and got a kick out of the story. Her voice is a beautiful as ever, possibly gained even more grace with age, something she joked about (the aging).
Shawn Colvin is one of my all time favorite singer/songwriters, I have seen her many times and she did not disapoint. Amazing performance, such a warm presence on stage, she is simply amazing. I also love the Canyon Club, great sound system and atmosphere
