Emmylou Harris - Nashville - City Winery - May 20, 2016
This show was my second time seeing Emmylou this month. We're on a first name basis now it seems. Oddly enough, there was a period where just about every show I went to she would appear as a special guest. I actually saw her two days in a row back in the fall when she guested during Ann Wilson and Patty Griffin's shows. She has some amazing friends that's for certain. Each City Winery show (benefiting Emmy's charity Bonaparte's Retreat) during her four show residency this month had guests. For this specific show the guests were Mary Ann Kennedy and Pam Rose.
I thought the set list for this show flowed well. "Red Dirt Girl" is my favorite Emmy album and I know I'm not alone. She was smart to chose so many songs from it. Let's be honest about the set list though, Emmy could sing the phone book and make me emotional. She has a way of cutting through it all and going right to my soul. Patty Griffin and Lori McKenna are the other only two who can do that. No wonder Patty and Emmy are friends by the way. It's a rare gift. Moreover, Emmy gets major props for singing her song "Her Hair Was Red" as I was sitting there right in front of her (first row or bust). I don't care if it was already written on the set list (which I got). She also took time to explain before she sang her cover of Patti Scialfa's "Spanish Dancer" how underrated she thinks Patti is as a song writer "Just because she's Mrs. Bruce Springsteen". As she was saying that I was nodding my head and applauding because this is true. Patti's songs are beautifully crafted. All three of her albums are fabulous. She's posted on her Instagram about a new album coming and I can only dream that Emmy is on it somehow. I loved "Tragedy" which Patti and Bruce sang on from Emmy's "Wrecking Ball" album.
Anyway I digress, while Mary Ann Kennedy and
Pam Rose were performing with Emmy
as her guests, I couldn't help but think how these two had everything down to a science. They knew just when to come in and play on certain parts and exactly what to sing. Later Emmy announced that they'd toured together in the past and it all made sense. She also said that they were touring together again this year. I thought it was very cool of Emmy to also give both Pam and Mary Ann their own mini set during the show. Pam's song "If I Fly" applies directly to my life right now and almost had me in tears. Standing ovations all around for this show. I hope the tour Emmy spoke about gets a Nashville date. I think the Ryman would be the perfect venue. Just saying!
Likes:
-Many personal favs played. "After The Goldrush" was also a delight. I know this is a Neil Young cover, but it's also from "Trio", which is an amazing album I grew up loving.
-Excellent guitar playing and vocals
-These shows are for charity (major props)
Dislikes:
-Being packed in like a sardine up front at the venue (price you pay for closeness)
-I would've loved a longer encore, it felt a little abrupt
-Ticket cost a little high ($85, but it's for charity)
