Entering their third decade as a band, Son Volt feel more vital than ever. This can be evidenced by their current tour, nearly all of which has been sold out. It is not simply the fact that the alt-country stalwarts have released a new album, Notes of Blue, but the fact that Jay Farrar’s lyrics that bring to mind an America that is on the minds of many now. It is the loss of the old, simpler America that seems more relevant than ever, making Farrar’s lyrics from twenty years ago feel like prophecy on the level of fellow Americana storytellers like James McMurtry. On Friday, May 5th, Son Volt brought their tour to Portland for a sold out show at the Aladdin Theater.
Anders Parker – best known as the front man of Vernaline and for his work with Jay Farrar and My Morning Jacket’s Jim James in New Multitudes – kicked the night off with a solo acoustic set. Leaning heavily on his recently released album The Man Who Feel To Earth, Parker serenaded the audience with a set that included new songs like the hopeful “As The Stars Fell Down On Me”, the stripped down blues number “Going Up North”, the emotionally potent “Skin On Skin”, and the catchy “I Got My Spoonful”. Ever the storyteller, Parker’s brand of gothic folk resonated with the audience, who seemed to savor his every word even while anticipating the main act.
Jay Farrar never smiles but it’s easy to see the joy he gets in performing live with Son Volt. In front of a sold out crowd at the Aladdin, Farrar and his band looked eager to sink their teeth into songs off their new album, Notes of Blue. The album is as much a tribute to the blues as 2013’s Honky Tonk was a tribute to its namesake and the Bakersfield sound. Truthfully, the album also rocks harder than anything Son Volt has released in years and, since the album runs just over thirty minutes, it was easy for Farrar and co. to play nearly the entire thing. Though every fan in the room clearly had their own dream set list, every time a new song popped up in the set, it was received with the same level of praise as older favorites like “Dynamite” and “Tear Stained Eye”. The new songs found Farrar elevating his voice and working hard to stir up bluesy rock and roll numbers, most of which came in at around two minutes. These songs helped keep the energy up by plenty of older favorites.
Last year Farrar toured with a stripped down lineup to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Son Volt’s 1995 debut Trace. The album may still be the band’s most loved, and it was not surprising that songs from it appeared throughout the set. Songs like “Catching On”, “Ten Second News”, and “Route”. All of these songs still thrash and bash with the same intensity they did twenty years ago. Perhaps the album’s legacy has overshadowed Son Volt’s all around solid catalogue as the band barely touched any material from their 2000’s albums. There was joy amongst everyone who has ever prayed for an Uncle Tupelo reunion when the band covered not one but two songs with “Graveyard Shift” and “Chickamauga” during the encore. By the end of a nearly two-hour set Son Volt had taken the audience on a ride through songs new and old without ever dabbling in nostalgia.
