LMF - Justin Townes Earle

Justin Townes Earle played the High Noon Saloon in Madison last Friday, Feb. 26, 2010. The High Noon sold to capacity (approx. 400) well before showtime, and Mr. Earle did not disappoint the sell-out crowd. Following the earnest and poetic, yet down-to-earth folk stylings of Chicago's Joe Pug - who deserves his own ink - Earle's set danced back and forth seamlessly between old-time country, swing, pre-war folk and blues and gospel-based songs, ranging in tone from sad desperation to genuine country-boy rowdiness. While his recordings are somewhat subdued and brooding at times, his live show is a rollicking good time, worthy of any boozy honky tonk. Earle, all 6'5" of his scrawny frame, clearly enjoys himself on stage, exuding the energy of a nerdy-yet-naughty country boy using an "aw-shucks" charm to take the sting out of his shenanigans. It works for him.

He pleased the crowd with selections from all of his releases, including the 2008 EP Yuma ("Yuma," "I Don't Care"), his 2008 full-length debut The Good Life ("Hard Livin'," "Lone Pine Hill," "South Georgia Sugar Babe," "What Do You Do When You're Lonesome," "Ain't Glad I'm Leaving") and the critically acclaimed 2009 release Midnight at the Movies (title track, "Mama's Eyes," "They Killed John Henry," "Poor Fool," "Someday I'll Be Forgiven For This," "Walk Out" and a tasteful cover of The Replacements' tune "Can't Hardly Wait"). For good measure, Earle threw in a couple new, yet-to-be released tracks from an anticipated album, which found inspiration in gospel music. Earle half-confessed and half-bragged that his love of gospel and other church music "don't mean God wants me in his house." Don't worry, Justin, I think He'd make an exception if you brought your guitar.

Don't get wrong, Earle is a very entertaining stage presence with a quick wit, an almost nervously energetic vibe, a solid country voice and a growing talent for handling the guitar. Still, his songwriting talent is the real star of his shows. There are plenty of good players and singers out there, but when a songwriting effort is expertly executed through a traditional structure, but with a little twist of originality and wit on top that make it sound all but completely new, you can immediately recognize that you're hearing something that is just plain lacking in 99% of the music that is bought and sold. While being the son of the aptly nicknamed "Hardcore Troubador" and country songwriting legend Steve Earle, and being named after the almost mythical songwriting persona that was Townes Van Zandt, Earle carefully walks a fine line, managing to honor and appreciate that heritage without hiding behind it or riding its coattails. In short, JTE is legit. His dry songwriting wit and often painful honesty, coupled with a remarkable ability to pay homage to century-old traditions while simultaneously innovating and creating is more than enough to warrant our attention and respect, regardless of that weighty bloodline.

We were there with some new friends and some old friends, including my pal Trike who was celebrating a birthday. Justin graciously honored the occasion with a smiling photo-op, which Trike will frame and cherish, no doubt. I didn't find the same opportunity, but I did purchase the cocktail that Trike is holding in the photo, so I feel like I'm in the frame in spirit.



Every show has a defining moment for the interested observer. Mine turned out to be his performance of "Mama's Eyes," a redemption ballad that hits close to home for me. However, there was another memorable event that came shortly after that. Near the close of his primary set, the bourbon and I were rather rudely shouting out for him to play "Yuma," a sad, slow suicide ballad from his first EP. There were a couple of other drunks with the same idea. For a guy who has played as many shows as Earle, it wasn't difficult for him to shut us down. He responded to us quite directly, with a feined stern look and a good-natured scolding, "Don't tell me what to do!" Even so, he played the song in the middle of his short encore. (I'd like to take credit for it, but Youtube and show review evidence reveals that he has played the song on other tour stops this month as well.)

Perhaps the best praise I can heap upon this show is simply to say that I had been looking forward to the show for several weeks, and had very high expectations going in, yet I was far from let down and walked out of the High Noon an even bigger fan than when I went in.

Bottom line: The next time he's in town, I'll be buying a ticket again.

Here's about the best video of the show that I could find...