“This one’s for her, whatever the hell her name was,” Steve Earle said with a laugh, before he broke into “Now She’s Gone,” off 1996’s I Feel Alright. It was that kind of night for Earle—a chance to look back, but not dwell on any kind of regret. And that’s a smart thing, because for the most part of the show, Earle wasn’t backed by his fiery band, The Dukes; instead, it was just him and a guitar. And although he would later be joined by his wife, the lovely Allison Moorer (who also opened the show) on guitar and vocals, and his traveling DJ who perked up the audience with dizzying beats, a solo acoustic performance isn’t the stage to start feeling vulnerable.
But that’s not a word anyone should ever use to describe the 53-year-old singer-songwriter. Because everything Earle does is so matter-of-fact that it’s evident that he’s not just a great musician, he’s also a great speaker. And I’m not just talking about his direct stage banter, which he kept to a minimum; you could also sense it on a song like “Down Here Below,” where Earle used the verses to tell the story of Pale Male, a legendary Red-tailed hawk that circles Central Park in New York City. With his hands tucked deep inside his pockets, he did little singing, but more explaining on one the best songs off his latest album, Washington Square Serenade, his first since moving to the Big Apple.
This is why I love Steve Earle—his confidence in what he does ultimately wins you over. Whether he was blazing out the gates with Transcendental Blues’ “Steve’s Last Ramble” and Copperhead Road’s “Devil’s Right Hand,” or toning it down and taking his sweet time picking through the delicate “My Old Friend the Blues” or the bittersweet “Goodbye,” Earle was making you believe his words.
“Was I off somewhere, or maybe just too high,” he sang. “But I can’t remember if we said goodbye.” He spoke of love, pain, and drugs—a turbulent, but true life lived. Thankfully, and just barely, he’s still here to relive its lessons—live and in person.
The stoic Earle did take some chances, like the addition of the aforementioned DJ, who assisted on various songs like “Tennessee Blues,” “Satellite Radio,” and the Tom Waits cover, “Way Down in a Hole.” The nameless spinner even helped with vocals—surprising the attentive crowd, but not disturbing those who attended. If anything, it just goes to show that you can’t expect the same routine from Steve Earle. You have to cherish what he gives you, the good and the bad, always knowing that he’s speaking from the heart.
Earle’s wife, Allison Moorer, opened the show with a short solo-acoustic set that focused on her newest album, Mockingbird, which features cover songs from female singer-songwriters. While nothing fell flat, Moorer absolutely nailed Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now,” showing off her sweet voice and stunning stage presence. She would later join her husband and thrive on songs like “Days Aren’t Long Enough” and “City of Immigrants,” but her opening set proved that she’s got the tools to shine just as bright all by herself.
